WILLIAMNAGAR, MAR 14: A total of 300 active workers of Congress,United Democratic Party (UDP) and National Peoples’ Party (NPP) including prominent leaders on Monday joined the BJP at a formal programme in Williamnagar, East Garo hills.
The huge contingent of political activist joining the BJP has boosted the BJP morale, as the party is slowly and steadily making inroads in Garo hills, a region which has been a stronghold of the Congress party.
Santosh Marak of UDP, who lost the last assembly election from Williamnagar election against Congress candidate Deborah Marak, joined the party today.
The formal joining in ceremony was attended by senior BJP leaders, which included party’s state Mahila Morcha president Bianca Kyndiah, Yuva Morcha president Egenstar Kurkalang, West Garo Hills district president Bernard Marak, Kisan Morcha general secretary Rocky R. Marak, amongst others.
All the new members were welcomed and received in the party by BJP state president Shibun Lyngdoh at Williamnagar.
Terming the event as historic day for BJP in Garo hills, Lyngdoh said, “Today is a historic day for the BJP in Garo hills and it clearly shows that the political clout and support of the Congress and others are waning while that of the BJP is rising”.
Santosh Marak, the former secretary of the UDP in the East Garo Hills district said that the decision to join the BJP was a collective one. He felt the UDP was too limited in its approach after the debacle in last year’s GHADC elections.
“It was the collective decision of my supporters and well-wishers. The people of Garo hills had spoken in the last assembly and GHADC elections. There is no future in the UDP and the Congress is the most corrupt party. Development is negligible and the only way forward is the BJP,” said Santosh, speaking to media.
David Kharsati, the state BJP state general secretary, said that people were looking for an alternative to the Congress, NPP and UDP. “They have realized that the alternative lies in the BJP,” he said.
He also attacked the Congress for accusing BJP of propagating a beef ban and being anti-tribal and anti-Christian. “We all know that the central government has never called for a beef ban and cannot do so as the matter is a state subject. This is just propaganda by those that have no other issues to rake up. It was the BJP, which gave its full support for the candidatures of Prof. GG Swell and late Purno Agitok Sangma to contest the presidential elections and they (Congress) accuse us of being anti-tribal?” Kharsati asked.
Hitting out further at Congress Kharsati said, “The BJP government at the centre is making efforts to strengthen the district councils in the country, including Meghalaya and the North East while the previous UPA government appointed committee, led by Veerapa Moily, had recommended the abolition of the district councils”.-From Our Correspondent
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