By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Oct 3: Dissent is brewing within the BJP camp following the appointment of Rikman Momin, party leader from Garo Hills, as the state president of the BJP recently.
Rikman’s elevation to the party chief has raised eyebrows among many of its own state leaders.
A senior BJP leader, on condition of anonymity, said the party is divided over his appointment, while questioning the adherence to due procedure in doing so. None of the party leaders were consulted before such a decision was made, it seems.
Four names — Rikman Momin, David Kharsati, Mariahom Kharkrang and Bernard Marak — were among the names which were floated to be Ernest Mawrie’s predecessor.
Hek was in favour of Kharkrang while majority of Garo Hills leaders wanted Bernard to become the next party chief. However, some party leaders believe that Rikman Momin, a close aide of Dr Chuba Ao, the national vice president of BJP, had influenced this change.
Rikman’s appointment has reportedly created a rift across the party base in the Garo Hills.
As a party which boasts about democratic procedures, it has time and again failed in Meghalaya, said the senior leader.
The state leaders feel that the central leadership is least interested in the affairs of Meghalaya.
Looks like they are counting on NPP to counter the Congress and TMC in Meghalaya, he said.
The party leader also stated that the friction between Mawrie and Hek after the latter was removed from the position of a Cabinet Minister in 2021 had been escalating and the repercussions were felt following HM Shangpliang’s resignation. The infighting between Chuba Ao and Mawrie could also be another factor which shouldn’t be discounted for the removal of Mawrie, he said.
With Mawrie replaced, the senior leader stated that several party leaders were not happy with Ao’s style of functioning.
Now, only time will tell if this internal reshuffle unites or divides the state BJP.
The alleged infighting between the two BJP MLAs — AL Hek and Sanbor Shullai — is also getting from bad to worse as they seem to contradict each other’s stance.
This perhaps is among the reasons behind the BJP’s lack of success, and may even thwart other aspiring leaders from joining the party.
Apparently, the infighting in the party is highly unlikely to die down anytime soon.
With Mawrie removed, it seems the central leaders are counting on the newly appointed state president, Rikman Momin to resolve the crisis in Meghalaya.
Appeal for unity
Momin, the newly appointed state BJP president, assumed charge on Tuesday and pitched for unity among the party leaders.
Momin is ready to strengthen the party and work with all leaders including the ex-president, Ernest Mawrie.
Talking about the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, Momin said as soon as the central leadership of the party gives a go-ahead, they will begin the work.
“In people’s minds, there is still hope for BJP as Prime Minister Narendra Modi is working for the poor with several schemes to help them,” Momin said.
Admitting that the party has not been successful in the last two Assembly elections in the state, the state BJP chief said with the two MLAs and the combined effort, they expect things to change for better.
He said that the vote share of the party also has gone up significantly, while adding that they want to win more seats.