BJP leaders joins NCP

SHILLONG, JAN 15: In a blow to BJP, its leaders from Pynthorumkhrah constituency today quit the party and joined the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) ahead of the upcoming Assembly polls.

The BJP Mandal in Pynthorumkhrah was also dissolved with the resignation of its president Batshanbor Wanswett and Predecessor Rumnong, who was also a state executive member of the party.

The decision was taken as a mark of protest against the BJP state leadership for sidelining the leaders and members of the mandal by welcoming the former Congress legislator Alexander L Hek without any consultation.

Both Rumnong and Wanswett along with other members were formally welcomed to the NCP by its newly appointed state president Saleng A Sangma at the party’s office here in the city.

Addressing media persons, Rumnong said, “We have decided to leave the BJP for its bulldozing attitude against the leaders of the mandal by failing to inform about the joining of the former legislator to the party.”

Being one of the aspirants for the BJP ticket, he said that the mandal have been working so hard for the past three and a half years for the party but it has betrayed them.

“However I have decided to join the NCP and also seek to contest the upcoming elections from the party,” Rumnong, who had also earlier contested unsuccessfully in the last 2013 election from a UDP ticket, informed.

He also alleged that the constituency is one of most backward constituencies in the state due to failure of the former legislator despite of him being elected for the past 20 years.

In his resignation letter submitted to the BJP state president Shibun Lyngdoh, Wanswett said, “We tendered our resignation on the ground that Rumnong did not get the party ticket.”

He said that it was Rumnong who had worked so hard to revive the BJP party in the constituency after it was abandoned and left in a state of chaos by Hek, who was former BJP state president.

“However he (Hek) has bulldozed his way and there was no information to us that he will be joining. This has left us in a state of shock,” he stated.

Meanwhile, some BJP members from South Shillong and Ranikor constituency have also joined the NCP.

By Our Reporter