From Our Correspondent
TURA, Oct 4: BJP vice president and Tura MDC, Bernard N Marak on Wednesday dismissed reports of “dissent” in the party over the appointment of Rikman Momin as the party’s new state president.
He pointed out that party leaders, including elected MLAs and MDCs, had attended the taking over ceremony at the party office to extend their support to the new president.
“From where do these pseudo leaders appear in the paper giving statements in anonymity against the decision of the Centre leaders? It is nothing but politics to create confusion and division. We are happy to have Rikman as the president. After many years, the BJP office came alive with cheerful faces of young and old leaders. Even the outgoing president was happy in handing over the chair to the new president,” Bernard said, adding the celebration was justified because a Garo president has been appointed president for the first time in the history of BJP in Meghalaya.
Bernard alleged that it could be those in the opposition who are anonymously trying to issue contradictory statements and attempting to create division among the BJP ranks.
It may be added here that a BJP leader had anonymously revealed to The Shillong Times on Tuesday that Rikman’s elevation to the post of party chief “has raised eyebrows among many of its own state leaders”.
The BJP leader had said the party was divided over his appointment, and had questioned the lack of adherence to due procedure in doing so. None of the party leaders were consulted before such a decision was made.
The party leader had 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 had said.