Staff Reporter
SHILLONG:
Meghalaya in-charge and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Chuba Ao, on September 3 expressed confidence that no government can be formed without the saffron party’s support.
“We cannot dictate or request them (National People’s Party [NPP]). But without BJP, the next government will not be formed,” he said while speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a programme.
His statement comes in the wake of NPP national president and Chief Minister Conrad Sangma announcing that the party will go solo in the 2023 Assembly elections.
Asked about the prospect of their coalition with the NPP, Ao categorically stated that the saffron party might withdraw support to the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) government.
“We are also planning within one month…. We will see what to do. We may withdraw. We will have discussions with the national president,” he said. He added that the BJP will have a certain strategy before it goes ahead and withdraws its support to the government.
As for the allegations of corruption against the state government, Ao said that they are gathering papers and evidences.
On his comments that party president Ernest Mawrie should retire, Ao said that he got delusional, adding that BJP is a big party where miscommunication and misinterpretation may take place.
Speaking on the case of arrested BJP leader Bernard Marak who is in the news for allegedly running a brothel, Ao refused to comment much as the matter is in the Court.
Meanwhile, Mawrie informed that national general secretary BL Santhosh is in the state and met several BJP leaders to discuss strengthening of the party and also plan for the upcoming 2023 election.
In another development, former Superintendent of Police of East Khasi Hills, Mariahom Kharkrang joined the BJP on Saturday.
“I want my state to develop, that is why I chose BJP. BJP is for development and there is no ideological differences,” he said.
When asked, he said that he is a BJP ticket aspirant but it all depends on the BJP leadership. Kharkrang is a ticket aspirant from North Shillong constituency and is all set to face former (DHS MI) Dr Aman War and engineer Ransom Sutnga.