Over 200 people, mostly from AITC in Mawsynram  join BJP

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaAugust 9, 2022

Over 200 supporters, mostly from the opposition All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) from Mawsynram constituency on Tuesday joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ahead of the 2023 assembly elections in the state.

The group of supporters led by Ruby Shangpliang was welcomed by BJP national executive member and former minister AL Hek during a meeting held at the BJP state office.  

Speaking to reporters, Hek said the joining of over 200 supporters from the Mawsynram constituency will further strengthen the party organization in the state of Meghalaya.

He said the party is also anticipating that more and more people from the different constituencies will be joining the party in the coming days.

“Many sitting MLAs as well as ex-MLAs are also joining the BJP very soon,” Hek said.

When asked, the BJP leader said the party cannot declare AITC legislator from Mawsynram Himalaya M Shangpliang as its official candidate since he is yet to join the party.

“Let him join then we will talk. If he has joined the BJP that is a different case but he has not join how we can declare his name as the candidate of the BJP,” he said.

“Moreover, it is too early to say now as we have the state election committee we have state BJP and we have the central election committee and time will come we will identify who will be the candidate from which constituency,” he added.

Majority of those joining the BJP today are supporters of Shangpliang, who will soon join the saffron party ahead of the 2023 polls.

However, Hek claimed that some of the supporters also belonged to UDP and NPP.

Meanwhile, Hek informed that the BJP will contest from 40 seats in 2023. “We will try our best to install a BJP-led government in Meghalaya,” he said.

Asked if the BJP will still be working with NPP after the 2023 elections, the national executive member said that both the parties are partners in the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance government.

“We are working together as partners in the MDA but we are not going to have any pre-poll alliance with any political party,” he said.

Hek further claimed that the party is growing in the Khasi, Jaintia and Garo Hills region because of the strong leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.