National People's Party (NPP) has done nothing wrong with BJP, says Meghalayan minister

SHILLONG: BJP Minister in Meghalaya A.L. Hek has dismissed the allegations against the National People's Party (NPP) that the latter had damaged the party's prospect in the state by forcing them not to field candidates in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. "I have not seen the NPP doing anything wrong with the BJP," he told IANS on Friday.

However, BJP state vice president Bernard N. Marak had alleged that the NPP legislator from the Mahendraganj Assembly seat, Sanjay A. Sangma insulted the sentiments of the BJP supporters in the state by saying that NPP is a bigger force in Meghalaya.

Marak demanded an apology from Sangma and also drew the attention of other state BJP leaders on this issue. Reacting to the incident, Minister Hek said, "This is the opinion of a single person; the NPP is not to be blamed. The decision of not fielding candidates in two parliamentary seats in Meghalaya was taken by the top leadership of the BJP."

The minister also said that the issue has already been discussed with CM Conrad K. Sangma. "In this poll, the target is to achieve 400 plus seats for the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). Therefore, I request all the BJP leaders and workers to abstain from any form of provocation," Hek demanded.

Notably, BJP and NPP have been partners in the ruling government in Meghalaya since 2018. However, both parties fought the 2023 Assembly elections separately and the poll campaign witnessed fierce attacks between the allies. But soon after the polling results were out, the BJP extended support to the NPP to form the government in the state.

For the Lok Sabha polls, NPP announced its candidates for two Lok Sabha seats in Meghalaya in December last year. BJP had announced last month that it will not field candidates in Meghalaya and the party would support NPP. Later, Chief Minister Conrad Sangma thanked PM Narendra Modi stating the decision that he had taken is a wise one. (IANS)

Also Read: National People’s Party relation with NDA is strong: Meghalaya CM Conrad Sangma

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