By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Sep 7: Former BJP leader HM Shangpliang on Thursday said he is joining the National People’s Party (NPP) without any pre-condition and that he had no discussions whatsoever with the party on the issue of contesting the Lok Sabha elections.
“I am joining the NPP without any pre-condition. Once I join it, I will shoulder whatever responsibility is given to me by party high command,” Shangpliang told reporters replying to a query if the NPP promised a ticket to him for the Parliamentary elections.
“I leave it to the judgement and wisdom of party high command to utilise my services to the best of my ability. I am ready to serve the NPP with whatever responsibility is given to me,” he said.
He said he met Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma just once at the latter’s residence a few days ago after he was informed that his induction into the party would take place on September 13 and that there would be “other discussions”.
He will formally join the NPP on September 13 at its state office. His supporters and leaders from Mawsynram will join the party on September 12 at Mawsynram.
“I have seen the leadership of Conrad Sangma. In the past five years, his government brought about drastic changes in the state. There has been a lot of development. I thought NPP is the only party of the state which can give a sense of security, development and a future to the people,” he said.
Some people viewed his knack of frequently changing political allegiance as politics of convenience and opportunity. But he reiterated that he is joining the NPP without any pre-condition. He said he wants to serve the people of the state and the NPP provides that platform.
He said he always consults his leaders and voters from Mawsynram before taking any decision. He said they had unanimously given their consent to him to join the NPP.
“Prior to resigning (from BJP), I met all my leaders in Mawsynram and took their consent. I said we are moving out of the BJP and cited the reasons. They gave their consent. My people are with me,” Shangpliang said.
He clarified that he had never discussed the Lok Sabha elections with BJP state chief Ernest Mawrie. He said he had also never asked for a ticket or discussed putting up a common candidate.
He said it is altogether a different thing if the state BJP leaders discussed among themselves without his knowledge to nominate him for the Lok Sabha elections.