There seems to be a significant tension between the BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) and the NPP (National People’s Party) in Meghalaya, particularly in Garo Hills. NPP leader and Cabinet Minister Rakkam A. Sangma accused the BJP of betraying the NPP in the Tura seat during recent elections. This accusation was fueled by a video allegedly showing BJP Vice President Bernard Marak claiming that Congress won the Tura seat with the BJP’s support.
Talking to Mediapersons on Tuesday, Rakkam Sangma mentioned that NPP National President Conrad K. Sangma has announced that the NPP will never again form a prepoll coalition alliance with the BJP in future elections. This statement comes after it was revealed that Tura MP Saleng A. Sangma allegedly sought the BJP’s support during the parliamentary election, a fact that Rakkam says was previously hidden from the public.
Further, the NPP leader termed the recent revelation made by BJP leader and Tura MDC Bernard N Marak that Tura MP Saleng A Sangma had sought the BJP’s support during the parliamentary election, as a discovery of what was hidden from the people.
Rakkam said, “I don’t want to comment on this as our high command will take a call n this…Last time a fake video was circulated and people painted BJP and NPP with the same brush but now it’s an open secret and people know who is a real friend of somebody, it has come to light. This is something which was unexpected. The hidden has been discovered,” h
He also said, “The so-called fake coalition have cost us”.
Saleng defeated NPP’s Agatha K Sangma by a huge margin.
The NPP leader also claimed that his party has never sought the support of the BJP during the Lok Sabha election. He said, “In fact it was the BJP who decided not to field the candidate and they have directed the BJP voters and cadres to vote for NPP whereas the cadres in Meghalaya worked in different way. It is clear now.”
Sangma said that the NPP chief Conrad K Sangma had made it very clear that in the future, the party will fight elections on its own and will say no to pre-poll alliance with any political party.
Asked, the cabinet minister said that breaking ties with the BJP does not arise as of now. According to him, the recent sanction of Rs 2500 crore for MITP projects is the benefit of the coalition we had with the Centre government.
Rakkam said that the Gambegre election will be a very crucial election for the NPP.
“We are working very hard and people have understood the clear picture what is black and what is white,” he added.
Recently, Bernard had stated, “He (Saleng) should thank the BJP for not fielding candidate in the election. He should be grateful that even I did not contest as Independent. I fail to understand why he (Saleng) speaks against BJP, when BJP has supported him for his victory.”