SHILLONG:
BJP state president Ernest Mawrie on May 16 said his party will support the NPP-led Meghalaya Democratic Alliance 2.0 government till the end.
“We are the first party who went to Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma and submitted our letter of support to form the (MDA-2) government as per instruction from the central leadership. Therefore, we are working to support the government till the end of this term,” Mawrie told reporters.
“Both the MLAs – A L Hek and Sanbor Shullai – with the direction from the central leadership have supported the government and we will support it also till the end of the term,” he added.
Mawrie however refused to comment on the recent allegation made by opposition AITC leader and former chief minister Mukul Sangma that Hek had requested the AITC leaders to ensure that the NPP-led MDA government does not come back to power in the state. Mukul had also denied having any discussion with Hek for merging with the saffron party.
The BJP leader reiterated that there has been no communication received from the AITC leaders and said “they are not going to join our party.”
When asked, Mawrie said that a general note has been issued to all party karyakartas including the MLAs to abstain from making anti-government statements.
Meanwhile, the BJP leader informed that the meeting of the state executive committee will be held on May 18. BJP national vice president M Chuba Ao, who is also in-charge of Meghalaya will attend the meeting.
He said the meeting would discuss the achievements of the Modi government during the past nine years. It is a long programme and it will start from May 30 to June 30.
With regards to the load shedding faced by the people of the state, Mawrie said that the party will be raising this issue during an all-party meeting to be convened by the chief minister this week.
Party can’t merge with NPP
However, Mawrie also said the question of the BJP merging with the NPP will never arise.
“We cannot do that as a national party. That does not arise,” Mawrie told reporters.
He was reacting to a recent statement made by NPP leader and deputy chief minister Prestone Tynsong that the NPP is approaching all political parties including the BJP for a possible merger.
When asked, Mawrie however said that the NPP has not approached the state party of the BJP on the matter. “That is the statement of Prestone Tynsong but we are a national party. There are rules and regulations where we have to follow according to our constitution. We cannot do that…,” he added.