SHILLONG, Nov 5 - BJP in Meghalaya received a major boost after six members from the autonomous district councils from different parties, including a former Cabinet Minister from Congress, joined the party here today.
The six members included Ismael Marak, a former Cabinet Minister in the Congress Government headed by then Chief Minister DD Lapang in 2010. Marak is currently a Member of the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council.
The inductees also included Neil Antanio War, a Congress MDC in Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC). War, along with four other Congress MDCs, had recently resigned from the party after siding with suspended Congress MLA, PN Syiem. Apart from being an MLA, Syiem is also an MDC and is the chief of KHADC.
Goera B Marak from Garo National Council, Righteous Sangma, Nationalist Congress Party, Sofior Rahman and Kurosh Marak (Independents) also joined the party. They are MDCs in GHADC.
Welcoming the new members to the party, BJP National spokesperson and in-charge Meghalaya, Nalin Kohli said the �people are tired of Congress party� and so they are leaving it.
Terming Congress as a �sinking ship�, Kohli added, �the Congress is collapsing from within due to its own contradictions and infightings.�
In an indication of what is to come, Kohli repeatedly praised suspended Congress MLA, Syiem. Kohli said, the Congress did not have answers to Syiem�s fight based on principles and rules and so he was �removed�.
�Syiem has been fighting based on rules and principles, but Chief Minister Mukul Sangma is misusing his power and trying to suppress rules and principles. The Congress is desperately trying to take steps to be in power in KHADC,� he said.
Without answering if Syiem has sent fellers to join the party, Kohli said: �the countdown for the Congress has begun. More people are thinking of leaving the party as they know staying would jeopardise their career.�
Meanwhile, War said, his decision to leave Congress is based on issues. �The Congress is totally indifferent when it comes to some of the pressing issues of KHADC. So I decided to leave and join BJP to strengthen the Council,� he stated.
