JHADC EC has to accept BJP MDCs: Hek

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaSeptember 7, 2019

SHILLONG: BJP leader and cabinet minister AL Hek on Saturday said he would ensure that all the four MDCs, who have joined the party, should be part of the NPP-led executive committee in the Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council (JHADC). 

“They will be part of the EC. I will talk to the MDA they have to accept the BJP MDCs,” Hek said while speaking at the meeting to officially welcome the four MDCs here. 

The four MDCs had recently quit the United Democratic Party (UDP), which is the main ally of the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance government. 

They include chairman of the JHADC Lakhon Biam, Krishon Langstang, Treilang Suchiang and Dawan Lyngdoh. 

Hek also assured that Biam will continue to be the chairman of the JHADC after there were move to topple him. 

While speaking to reporters, Biam admitted that one of the reasons behind their decision to join the BJP was due to the financial crisis in the JHADC.

“We want the Centre to bail out the Council,” he said while informing that the JHADC has not been able to pay salary to all the 30 MDCs and staff for the past five months, which amounts to Rs 35 crore. 

In contrary, BJP national spokesperson has denied allegations that the party has assured the MDCs to provide a one-time package to the JHADC for addressing the financial crisis. 

“I can say on record unequivocally I have not had any such discussion with anybody and certainly as a state in charge I can say that no such discussion has taken place so the question of whether they should be or not be does not arise,” he said. 

On the other hand, Biam said the decision to join the BJP is not to topple but it is to further strengthen the NPP-led EC in the JHADC.

Earlier in his speech during the meeting, the JHADC chairman termed the Prime Minister Narendra Modi as the most respected and undisputed leader and said “I want to follow his (PM) footsteps.” 

Biam had earlier unsuccessfully contested on a BJP ticket against NPP leader and cabinet minister Comingone Ymbon from Raliang constituency during the Assembly polls, last year. As the BJP decided not to contest the elections to the two ADCs, he later joined the UDP and won the MDC elections from Nangbah seat.