SHILLONG, Aug 28 - In a major boost to BJP ahead of the 2018 Meghalaya Assembly elections, two Independent MLAs and Parliamentary Secretaries in the present Congress-led Government have joined the party after meeting BJP president Amit Shah in New Delhi today.
The two MLAs � both from Jaintia Hills � Robinus Syngkon and Justine Dkhar have joined the party at the BJP�s National Headquarter at New Delhi in the presence of Shah, BJP�s National General Secretary Ram Madhav and NDA�s Convener (North East), Himanta Biswa Sarma.
Syngkon represents Mowkaiaw constituency while Dkhar is from Khliehriet constituency in Jaintia Hills. Syngkon is the Parliamentary Secretary (Horticulture, Legal Metrology) and Dkhar (Education and Social Welfare) in the Congress-led Meghalaya United Alliance II Government.
A third independent MLA, Parliamentary Secretary (Sports and Youth Affairs, Cooperation) Stephenson Mukhim from Jaintia Hills was present during the occasion. The MLA has not joined the party yet, but there are indication he would eventually.
Mukhim instead handed a memorandum to the BJP National president on behalf of the Coal Dealers� and Miners� Association. The Association wants the embargo on coal mining imposed by the National Green Tribunal lifted through a Presidential notification.
The development comes as a major boost for the BJP, which does not have any MLA in the 60-member House. �Joining of these two leaders will definitely give a huge boost to the party in the ensuing general election in 2018 not only in Jaintia Hills but in the entire State,� JA Lyngdoh, State BJP vice president said.
The BJP has been saying all along that several MLAs are in touch with the party and that includes some Cabinet Ministers. The party has claimed that these legislators would join the party during Shah�s scheduled visit to the State sometime next month.
�We can assure the people of Meghalaya that overall development of the State will take place only if BJP is voted to power and a corruption-free Government is ensured,� the BJP�s State vice president said.
