SHILLONG, Jan 15: National People’s Party (NPP) spokesperson, Ampareen Lyngdoh on Sunday said no political party can dictate terms if the people give a clear mandate.
“This is the thumb rule of democracy, mandated by the constitutional law,” she said while reacting to the BJP’s claim that no party can form the next government without it.
She, however, said any political party can make such claims.
When asked about the growing discord between the NPP and the BJP, Lyngdoh said relationships between two political parties operating on different ideologies are generally not maintained during elections.
The NPP and BJP – the UPD, HSPDP, KHNAM, PDF and the Independent MLAs as well – had formed the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance due to political compulsions, she said.
“Political parties in Meghalaya have not had pre-poll relationships in the recent past. Hung Houses have led to post-poll alliances of convenience, beyond any party’s control most of the time,” the NPP spokesperson said.
She said there is a high probability of the equations between political parties changing if there is a fractured mandate this time too.
She appealed to the citizens of the state to vote NPP to office in order to avoid the uncertainties of a hung House. “We need at least a simple majority to govern the state and steer it in the right direction. If Meghalaya has the same fate as 2018, there will be an arrangement with uncertain combinations,” Lyngdoh added.
Earlier, the state BJP had said no government will be formed in Meghalaya without its help. Party spokesperson Mariahom Kharkrang said this assessment was based on reports from the ground.
He said the people of the state have decided to elect a BJP-led government and nothing that state Congress president Vincent H Pala and Trinamool Congress leader Mukul Sangma may say will change their minds.
