‘NPP making orchestrated effort to give space to BJP’

SHILLONG, Feb 5: The TMC on Sunday alluded to an “understanding” between the NPP and the BJP to retain power together in Meghalaya.
Calling the NPP “a mask of the BJP”, TMC vice president George B Lyngdoh told The Shillong Times that the BJP-NPP collaboration was neither new nor hidden. It is an orchestrated effort of the NPP to give space to the BJP by not fielding candidates in at least two constituencies, he said.
Lyngdoh said Martin M Danggo’s move to join BJP and the NPP’s decision not to field a candidate in Ranikor is nothing but a pre-planned strategy and understanding between the BJP and the NPP. “The BJP and the NPP are trying to ensure that they come back together but people are smart and they understand. The electorate has already seen the double face of both parties,” he said.
“Perhaps Danggo has understood that it is better to go to the mother party (BJP) rather than sticking with the child (NPP) and that must be the understanding,” he observed.
He also pointed out that NPP has not fielded any candidate in South Shillong and is putting up a show of respect for BJP candidate and sitting MLA, Sanbor Shullai.
The NPP is also not contesting the Mairang seat “out of respect for Assembly Speaker Metbah Lyngdoh”.
Citing another example of the BJP-NPP understanding, Lyngdoh recalled that during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the state on december 18 last year, NPP national president and Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma had told the people that his party would promote the policies of the Prime Minister and the BJP in Meghalaya and the Northeast.
He went on to say that the collaboration between NPP and BJP was on full display when the CM subscribed to the BJP and its policies and now the NPP has become the BJP’s proxy in Meghalaya.