SHILLONG, Feb 5: The Meghalaya TMC has slammed the BJP for maintaining double standards in its relationship with the NPP.
State TMC president Charles Pyngrope on Sunday said the BJP has been going hammer and tongs against the NPP ahead of the February 27 Assembly elections.
“But at the same time, the BJP has not closed its option of having an alliance with the same party after the polls,” he told The Shillong Times.
He was reacting to BJP national vice-president and Meghalaya in-charge M Chuba Ao’s statement that the party has not ruled out the possibility of forging an alliance with the NPP post-polls.
The NPP and BJP, partners in the MDA Government, are contesting the polls on their own.
Pyngrope said the BJP leaders cannot have feet in two boats.
“If you are criticizing the NPP because of incompetence in governance and alleged irregularities and corruption, why did you not come out of the alliance? This only shows that he (Ao) is contradicting himself,” he said.
According to the state TMC president, the BJP would end up giving a clean chit to the NPP if it eyes a post-poll alliance after so much of badmouthing.
“There is nothing wrong if you contest the polls independently and have no pre-poll alliance. But how can you criticize the NPP if you are going to align with it after the elections?” he said.
Pyngrope denied any knowledge about party colleague Mukul M Sangma leaving TMC to join the BJP after the polls, as Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma and his deputy, Prestone Tynsong had claimed.
“Even if there is such a move, my stamp of approval as the state president would be required, which I have not yet given,” he said.
When reminded that an AICC leader said they committed a blunder by joining the TMC, he said they always wanted to be with Congress.
“The Congress is disintegrating. How can you stay in a house which is disintegrating? Either you fix your house or look for another one,” the state TMC chief said.
He further said the people at the helm of affairs for 30 years do not realise that a party needs revamping. “We did not want to leave. Ten years hence, we may be back to the same party. You never know,” he added.
Pyngrope, however, said they made the best choice under the circumstances because the TMC is the only part in the country that is currently running a state for 15 years.
“Forming a party of our own would have been a blunder. The TMC is the best and most credible party in this part of the country,” he said.
