M'laya BJP says no to pre-poll alliance

FROM A Correspondent

SHILLONG, July 26: The BJP in Meghalaya today made it clear that it was not interested in any pre-poll alliance even as it claimed that it will form the next government after the 2018 assembly polls.

Speaking to mediapersons here today, Meghalaya BJP president Shibun Lyngdoh pointed out that the state unit was in favour of contesting in all the 60 assembly seats in the 2018 elections but said that it will all depend on the central leadership.

“As a tiol party we wish to contest on our own but alliance is the subject of the central leadership,” the BJP president said.

When specifically asked on its partner the tiol People’s Party (NPP) which is with the NDA in the centre, the BJP president informed that the alliance with the party founded by Late Purno A Sangma in 2014 Lok Sabha election will stand till its “term” ends.

“We respected the demise of Purno Sangma that’s why we supported the NPP,” Lyngdoh said.  

The BJP president also said that the North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA) was formed purely for development of the region even as he informed that since the BJP has no legislators in states like Meghalaya and Mizoram the regiol parties should speak up for the schemes initiated by the centre.

“The NEDA is a platform wherein the regiol parties should speak for schemes launched by the centre,” Lyngdoh said.

The state BJP president also said that its unit in Meghalaya is strengthening its organizatiol set up and pointed out that so far 49 “mandals” out of the 60 assembly constituencies have been formed.  

“The BJP is moving for strengthening the party with the intention to wipe out the Congress in 2018,” he said.

The BJP president also informed that many leaders from other parties including legislators are making overtures towards the BJP.

“They are coming to us with conditions like, giving them tickets to contest the 2018 elections. We are studying their demands,” Lyngdoh said.

He however urged those wanting to join the party to do so by December 2016.

“Those joining us early will have a head start. They will be the drivers but those who join late will be mere passengers,” Lyngdoh added.