Four elected members of the Jaiñtia Hills Autonomous District Council (JHADC) belonging to the United Democratic Party (UDP) joined the Meghalaya BJP on Saturday though the party had hoped to get altogether eight members, including four of the Congress.
The four UDP members of the district council (MDCs) who have joined the BJP are Lakhon Biam, Dawan Lyngdoh, Krishon Langstang and Treilang Suchiang.
They were inducted in the presence of BJP leader in charge of Meghalaya, Nalin Kohli, BJP legislators A.L. Hek and Sanbor Shullai, state BJP president Shibun Lyngdoh and other party leaders and members.
Speaking to reporters later, Kohli said the four members were welcomed into the party fold in keeping with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call for sabka sath, sabka vikas aur ab sabka vishwas (development for all, carrying everyone along and winning everyone’s heart).
Last week, it was reported that four Congress MDCs would also join the BJP.
On the four Congress MDCs who did not join the BJP, Kohli said, “This is not the end. When people join of their free will, they are welcome into the BJP.”
On whether Congress MLAs in Meghalaya will also join the BJP, Kohli said not even one Congress MLA got in touch with him.
“The BJP’s doors are open for anyone who agrees with our national resolve of development and wants to strengthen this positive agenda. But regarding the Congress, no one has come and met me or spoken to me. It is possible that there are people who expressed their desire to join the BJP, but they have not got in touch with us,” Kohli said.
However in front of Kohli, BJP legislator Hek claimed that he was in touch with eight Congress MLAs, but they had not the required numbers to avoid disqualification as of now. “Once they have the numbers, they will join the BJP,” Hek claimed.
Kohli said there were instances when the MLAs got in touch with central leaders directly but by and large they first got in touch with the local unit of the party.
He said no conflict would arise because of the joining of the MDCs from the UDP or from other parties that are part of the coalition government in the state.
“Every political party has the right to function for its expansion and we all do that. Just because we are in the coalition government, does not mean that the NPP, the UDP or other parties do not follow their political agenda. This is the right of a person who wants to join,” he added.
When it comes to working in the government, Kohli said, “There is a common agenda that we work on. The party has its own activity and I see no problem in that.”
Kohli said no final decision had been taken yet on members from the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council who wanted to join the BJP.
