By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Sep 9: The mystery surrounding HM Shangpliang’s departure from the BJP continues.
He has not yet clearly spelled out why he deserted the party. Some BJP leaders cited divergent reasons. The party held a meeting on Saturday to discuss the recent political developments.
Talking to this reporter on the condition of anonymity, the BJP leaders said differences had cropped up between Shangpliang and the party over his move to make Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Mukul Sangma join the saffron party.
They claimed that Sangma even went to New Delhi to discuss the prospect of joining the BJP but its central leaders did not give him much time and asked him to wait.
According to the state BJP leaders, another factor which perhaps made Shangpliang quit the party was he had asked its state leadership that he wants to contest the ensuing Lok Sabha elections.
They claimed Shangpliang had changed his stand after a few days and expressed his desire to be the party’s state president. Some others claimed he wanted the party to recommend his name for a political appointment.
They said although the party was not averse to recommending his name for a political appointment, there were several hurdles which prevented it from doing so.
They said the BJP with just two MLAs was not in a position to ask for more political appointments and that the matter also entails getting the approval of Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma who is the final authority.
Shangpliang will formally join the National People’s Party (NPP) on September 13 at its state office.
“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 had stated recently.