Mission 400 plus: BJP chief Nadda appoints new state unit presidents for Nagaland and Meghalaya

 It's more than the mere get set go. The BJP is eyeing big in the national politics vis-a-vis 2024 Lok Sabha polls and is keen to 'make optimum use' of the goodwill in favour of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. 

BJP's national president J P Nadda on Monday appointed new state unit chiefs for Nagaland and Meghalaya. 

At the national level, the BJP has set a target of 400 plus 

Benjamin Yepthomi will be new state president in Nagaland where the saffron party shares power with Neiphiu Rio-led NDPP. He will replace Temjen Imna Along, who is also a state Minister. 

In Meghalaya, the new president will be Rikman Momin. He replaces Ernest Mawrie, who often had issues with a few senior leaders of the party.

The new appointments were made by BJP general secretary Arun Singh.

BJP national vice president M Chuba Ao has congratulated Momin for his appointment.

"I'm confident that you will serve the Party and Karyakartas with great passion and integrity. Wishing you all the best in this new role," Chuba Ao tweeted.  

"Heartiest congratulations to Shri @YepthomiBen Ji on his well-deserved appointment as the State President of @BJP4Nagaland! 

Wishing you a successful and fulfilling journey in this responsibility," Chuba, a senior Naga politician, also congratulated Yepthomi. 

The new appointments suggest the Lotus party is keen for a decisive battle in most parliamentary seats in the northeast and will be eyeing to contest both the Lok Sabha seats in Meghalaya - Shillong and Tura and the lone seat in Nagaland. In Meghalaya, BJP could not put up a good performance in 2023 February polls and managed just to win two seats. 

The saffron party is now part of the coalition regime headed by NPP chief Conrad Sangma.

The Chief Minister's sister Agatha Sangma is the sitting Tura lawmaker while Congress leader Vincent Pala represents the prestigious Shillong parliamentary seat.