Saffron 'streamlining' : 4 sitting MLAs join BJP in Meghalaya
PM Narendra Modi likely to be in Shillong on Dec 18
New Delhi
The NPP of Conrad Sangma perhaps gets its initial taste of an 'indifferent' BJP.
The saffron party is now getting itself geared up for the fast approaching assembly elections in Meghalaya.
"....the north east India has been mainstreamed completely," said a beaming Himanta Biswa Sarma welcoming the four MLAs. Three of them have already quit their seats.
Four sitting legislators of the present House including two MLAs from alliance partner NPP, and one Trinamool Congress and one Independent joined the saffron party on Wednesday here in the national capital in presence of NEDA convener Sarma.
In Nagaland, the story is getting more complex by the day. The NDPP had played a smart game. It wanted to win 2023 as a "friend' of the BJP and making optimum use of 'Narendra Modi factor', but yet wanted to keep the Lotus party crippled in Nagaland. A battery of BJP leaders will visit Kohima on Dec 16th.
In Meghalaya, the MLAs Benedict Marak (Raksamgre) and Ms Fairlene Sangma (Selsella) were in NPP and Himalaya Muktan Shangpliang (Mawsynram) was in Trinamool. Samuel Sangma Independent MLA is from Baghmara assembly segment and understandably yet to resign his seat.
Himalaya Muktan is a key catch for the saffron party in Khasi belt which has 36 seats.
A popular Khasi leader, Muktan said, "We need a change in Meghalaya and that change can come only through the hands of honourable Prime Minister Narendra Modi".
He further said, "The BJP is growing by the day and people are getting more impressed by the developmental changes being brought by PM Modi".
"Guwahati is becoming the fastest growing city in the country and all these are possible because PM Modi has a
soft corner for the north east," he said.
PM Narendra Modi is likely to be in Shillong on Dec 18 to address the golden jubilee
celebrations of the North Eastern Council.
In terms of drama and anxiety on whether polls will be held in Nagaland in view of progress in peace
talks and ENPO related developments, Himanta - often considered a friend of NDPP leadership -
incidentally said, "We are preparing well for elections in all three north eastern states - Meghalaya, Tripura
and Nagaland".
"BJP's growth in the north east is not a temporary phenomenon. You have seen the governments in
Arunachal Pradesh, Assam and Manipur headed by BJP have been repeated twice," he said adding,
"The BJP's outreach in the northeast has become permanent. Now the address of BJP has become completely
permanent in the north east".
On July 26 -- ten days after making a fervent appeal for expediting the peace process, Chief Minister
Neiphiu Rio along with Himanta Biswa Sarma met Home Minister Amit Shah and settled for 20:40 seat
deal leaving an overwhelming section of the saffron party and ticket aspirants aggrieved.
Interestingly, a team of BJP national office bearers including Rituraj Sinha, Nalin Kohli and
Priyan Pandey (of Ram Madhav era) will visit Nagaland and also meet Chief Minister Rio on
December 16.
Interestingly, the date of journey coincides with the visit of the official team that will arrive for
ENPO related works and visit to the 'region' that is craving for separate statehood.
The BJP's scheduled programme has listed 'pre-Christmas dinner' on December 17 evening.
Most such extravaganzas for BJP central leaders including BJP's organisational
general secretary B L Santhosh in the past have been hosted by the Chief Minister and not any
state level BJP leader.
end
MLAs Benedict Marak (#Raksamgre) & Fairlene Sangma (#Selsella) from #NPP and Himalaya Muktan #Shangpliang (Mawsynram) Samuel Sangma Independent MLA from #Baghmara join #BJP in presence of Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma
"This is a new beginning...Since 2014, the north east has undergone a tremendous change. Every sector, the north east is progressing. Thanks to the visionary leadership of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi," Himanta said, adding, 'today north east has been mainstreamed completely".
"Four important Meghalaya legislators have joined BJP. I am confident, BJP will strengthen and we are confident, this time we will get the blessings of the people of Meghalaya," BJP leader Rituraj Sinha said.
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| Enthusiastic BJP workers in Meghalaya |
BJP leader and coordinator North East, Sambit Patra also was present and pointed out that Himalaya Muktan was in Trinamool Congress.
Himalaya Muktan said all four of them were overwhelmed to join the BJP. "We are growing by the day and it is getting more impressed by the developmental changes being brought by Prime Minister Narendra Modi," he said.
"Guwahati is becoming the fastest growing city in the country and all these are possible because PM Narendra Modi has soft corner for the north east," he said.
"The great party BJP has really impressed all four of us," he said adding, "We would like to tell the people of the country that in a place like Meghalaya, BJP is growing by the day and it is getting more impressed by the developmental changes that have been brought by none other than our great Prime Minister Narendra Modi".
"It is a pride moment for the BJP," Assam CM and NEDA convener Himanta Biswa Sarma said.
"We are preparing well for elections in all three north eastern states - Meghalaya, Tripura and Nagaland," Himanta told reporters on the occasion.
Himanta further said that the BJP will do well in elections in three states of Meghalaya, Nagaland and Tripura.
"As a result you have seen that three state governments run by BJP have been elected twice consecutively. BJP's growth in north east is not a temporary phenomenon. Now you have seen the governments in Arunachal Pradesh, Assam and Manipur headed by BJP have been repeated twice," Himanta said.
Thus, he maintained, the BJP's "outreach in northeast has become permanent....Now the address of BJP has become completely permanent in the north east".
For his part, Himalaya Muktan said, "We need a change in Meghalaya and that change can come only through the hands of honourable Prime Minister Narendra Modi".
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