Shillong, July 8: With nearly one and half year left for the next Meghalaya Assembly elections, the BJP appears to be signalling a shift in strategy—from being a junior coalition partner to emerging as an independent political force in the state.
The latest trigger for political speculation was the presence of former UDP leader and ex-MLA Jemino Mawthoh at a BJP programme commemorating the 125th birth anniversary of Syama Prasad Mookerjee. Mawthoh not only attended the event but also addressed party workers, fuelling rumours that he could soon join the saffron party. While there has been no official confirmation, senior BJP leaders privately indicate that his induction is only a matter of time.
The development comes amid other signs that the BJP is working to strengthen its footprint in Meghalaya. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, the BJP’s key strategist for the Northeast, was invited as the chief guest at the renowned Behdienkhlam Festival in Jowai—a move widely seen in political circles as part of the party’s efforts to deepen its outreach in the state.
Unlike in previous elections, the BJP has already made its intentions clear.Senior BJP leader AL Hek stated that the party will not enter into any pre-poll alliance and intends to contest the next Assembly elections on its own strength.
Despite being part of the NPP-led Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) government, the BJP currently has just two MLAs in the 60-member Assembly—AL Hek from Pynthorumkhrah and Sanbor Shullai from South Shillong. In the 2023 Assembly elections, the party secured 2 seats with a vote share of around 9 percent, while the NPP emerged as the single largest party with 26 seats.
Political observers say the BJP’s long-term objective is to replicate its expansion in neighbouring northeastern states. In Assam, the BJP leads the government and has become the state’s dominant political force. In Tripura, it displaced the Left Front to form the government in 2018 and retained power in 2023. In Arunachal Pradesh, the BJP enjoys an overwhelming majority, while in Manipur it emerged as the principal party before the recent political developments. In Nagaland, although the BJP governs in alliance with the NDPP, it has significantly expanded its organisational and electoral presence over the past decade.
Meghalaya, however, has traditionally remained a stronghold of regional parties such as the NPP, UDP, VPP, HSPDP, and others. The BJP’s strategy appears to be centred on gradually attracting influential regional leaders while simultaneously strengthening its organisational base across Khasi, Jaintia and Garo Hills.
Whether the BJP will be able to convert these political signals into electoral gains remains to be seen, but with the countdown to the 2028 Assembly elections underway, the party’s moves suggest it is preparing to seek a larger and more independent role in Meghalaya’s political landscape.
