Shillong, April 8 (UNI) Alliance partners Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and National People’s Party (NPP) held a meeting to ensure proper coordination between the two parties to ensure the victory of NPP candidate Agatha Sangma from Tura Lok Sabha seat.
Agatha is the sitting MP from the Tura Lok Sabha and is pitted against Saleng Sangma of the Congress, Zenith Sangma of the Trinamool Congress, and independent candidate Laben Marak.
The NPP is a constituent of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) at the Centre and also part of the North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA). In Meghalaya, the two BJP MLAs are supporting the NPP-led Meghalaya Democratic Alliance government.
The meeting held at Tura in West Garo Hills district on Sunday was attended by Chief Minister Conrad Sangma, who is also the national president of NPP, Meghalaya BJP president Rikman Momin, and senior leaders of both parties.
The Tura meet marks the second such summit between the highest leaders of the two parties and comes subsequent to the one that was held in Shillong recently.
During the meeting, Chief Minister Conrad Sangma reminded the gathering of the close relationship he has shared with the Prime Minister, a relationship that goes back over a decade, and pointed out that every vote for an NDA candidate is a reaffirmation of people’s faith in the leadership of Modi, a thought that finds resonance amongst every BJP karyakarta in the state and nation.
The NPP Supremo reserved special praise for Rikman G. Momin, calling his efforts at ensuring “smooth co-ordination and perfect teamwork an inspiration in itself”.
“The BJP State President’s single-minded endeavours towards confirming an NDA victory should serve as an example for everyone," Conrad said.
State BJP Chief Spokesperson, Mariahom Kharkrang, stated that the enthusiastic participation and vocal commitment towards an NDA victory by Garo Hills BJP workers totally dismantled the rumour mills, which have been working overtime recently, trying to paint a picture of disgruntlement amongst the BJP karyakartas in both Shillong and Tura constituencies.
On the other hand, the BJP president negated media reports that claimed that the absorption of the two BJP MDCs, Bernard Marak and Benedict Marak, was a condition laid out by the BJP in return for support to Agatha during the elections.
“The central leadership of BJP decided to support NDA candidates in Meghalaya, and the disciplined workers of the party don’t even dream of going against our highly respected leadership. I am repeating this, for it warrants repetition. Such stories reek of vested interests, and reputed media houses should avoid printing such baseless tales," Momin said.
The state BJP also hit out at former Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress leader Dr. Mukul Sangma, who had alleged that Congress candidate Vincent Pala from Shillong Lok Sabha seat was the architect of a BJP-NPP-Congress nexus in Meghalaya.
"Officially, the BJP in Meghalaya is supporting the NPP as an alliance partner of the NDA. The BJP's tie-up with the Congress is an absurd remark," Kharkrang said.
Meghalaya has two parliamentary seats: Shillong and Tura. Shillong parliamentary seat spreads over 36 Assembly segments, covering Ri-Bhoi and Khasi-Jaintia Hills. Tura Seat consists of 24 assembly segments in the entire Garo Hills region. UNI RRK AKS