Four Meghalaya MLAs join BJP as party seeks north-east boost in upcoming polls

New Delhi, Dec 14, 2022: On Wednesday, four Meghalaya MLAs, including two from Meghalaya’s ruling National People’s Party, joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) prior to assembly elections in the state.

Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma stated the joining of the four “experienced and respected” political figures will kickstart a “new beginning” for the BJP in the state, wherein it could clinch only two seats in the 60 member-assembly in the 2018 polls.

Though the state’s ruling NPP has been a part of the BJP-led National Democratic Party, their relations have always witnessed friction.

The BJP’s decision to bring in two of its MLAs, Benedic Marak and Ferlin Sangma, into its fold underscores its ambition to sideline the NPP and emerge as a strong force in the state ahead of the polls which are likely to take place in February.

The two other MLAs who joined the party at its headquarters here are Samuel M Sangma, an independent, and Himalaya Muktan Shangpliang, who is from the Trinamool Congress. It will serve as a big boost to the party, Sarma said.

The Assam chief minister expressed to reporters that under the Narendra Modi government, the north-east, which has eight states, has seen tremendous change since 2014 and every sector has advanced.

“The north-east has become mainstream completely and three BJP state governments (Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur) have been re-elected to power, highlighting the party’s address has become permanent in the region,” he said, expressing confidence that the BJP will achieve “spectacular wins” in the upcoming polls in Tripura and Nagaland, besides Meghalaya.