SHILLONG:
As speculated former Mawsynram legislator, Himalaya Muktan Shangpliang on Wednesday resigned from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
In his resignation letter addressed to state BJP president Ernest Mawrie, Shangpliang cited “nepotism” as his reason for resigning from the party.
“I would have liked to remain and serve the party in the right earnest, I understand that as long as nepotism prevails within the rank and file of the State BJP continues under the leadership of the President of the State BJP, It will hinder all possible steps of the dedicated and loyal party men to freely exercise their minds and grow in the party,” he stated in his resignation letter.
According to him there were various issues that he had repeatedly raised to the state president which are pertinent to the growth of the party in Meghalaya particularly in the rural areas and had suggested steps to be taken, keeping in mind of the poll debacle the BJP faced in the recently concluded assembly polls in the state.
“I had reminded the state president several times of the necessary action proposed to be taken to strengthen the party at various levels in view of the growing internal conflict within the party in the state,” Shangpliang said in his resignation letter.
In his resignation letter appreciated Dipayan Chakravarty, the BJP’s vice president in the state, for his big role and the continuous follow up to ensure his entry into the party under the guidance of Chuba Ao, national vice President of the party.
Shangpliang also said that although the election result was not in favour of the BJP but he decided to remain in the party and work for the growth and prosperity of the saffron in Meghalaya.
It may be mentioned that he had won the 2018 assembly elections from Mawsynram on a Congress ticket but in November 2021 resigned along with 11 others led by former Chief Minister Mukul Sangma to join the Trinamool Congress.
But in December 2022 a couple of months before the 2023 assembly elections he ditched the TMC for the BJP, but failed to win the polls on the saffron party’s ticket.
Lately, it was speculated that he will quit the BJP for the National People’s Party. Sources had said that he was keen to contest the 2024 Lok Sabha polls on a NPP ticket.
Earlier this year, Shangliang was appointed as the Adviser to the Government of Meghalaya’s Education Department.