BJP to fight 2018 state elections on its own

SHILLONG, JULY 26: Clearing the confusion, the state unit of BJP said that the North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA) is only a development forum and therefore the BJP will be fighting the 2018 Meghalaya assembly elections on its own.

Vowed to wipe out the ruling Congress in 2018, BJP state president Shibun Lyngdoh said, “We wish to contest the upcoming state elections in 2018 from all the 60 assembly seats on our own.” He, however, told the media during a media conference on Tuesday that the pre-poll alliance is an issue which the BJP central leadership will decide.

With Lyngdoh’s statement the state BJP thrown cold water on the hope for “pre-poll alliance” by non-Congress political parties like the National People’s Party (NPP), which is part & parcel of the NEDA, an initiative of the BJP.

Lyngdoh declared, “We wish to contest the upcoming state elections in 2018 from all the 60 assembly seats on our own.”

Referring to the recently launched North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA), a forum comprising of at least 10 regional political parties, Lyngdoh clarified that the agenda of alliance is to focus on development of the NE region.

“It (NEDA) is purely for development of the region besides a platform where all regional parties can come and submit their grievances and get information about the various development programme of the centre government,” he said.

Apart from NPP, the United Democratic Party (UDP), which is one of the biggest regional parties in Meghalaya, is also a member of the NEDA.

Stating that the party’s main aim is to “wipe out” the ruling Congress in Meghalaya, Lyngdoh said, “The BJP is moving fast and heading in a good direction, an indication that the party is an alternative and will lead the government in 2018.”

He informed that the BJP at the moment is strengthening its oraganizational units in full mode adding that the so far the party has been successful formed units in at least 49 mandals out of 60 assembly constituencies in the state.

“We have decided to complete the entire exercise of forming units in all the 60 mandals by September this year,” Lyngdoh informed.

Lyngdoh also claimed many people have joined the BJP in the last two weeks. Former HSPDP leader C Wahlang along with over 2000 supporters and former RBYF president Banbuhai Mukdoh with over 700 supporters have joined the party in Mairang, West Khasi Hills District and Mawhati in Ri Bhoi District, he said.

Lyngdoh also informed that an Indpendent MDC from Rajabala S Rehman along with his big team of 2000 supporters will also be joining the party shortly.-By Our Reporter