Shillong, Feb 02: The National People’s Party (NPP) in Meghalaya which is an ally of the BJP, tried to distance from the saffron party and questioned Meghalaya chief minister, Mukul Sangma for alleging the NPP as the agent and being funded by the BJP.

Speaking to reporters here on Friday, NPP Meghalaya president, W.R. Kharlukhi slammed All India Mahila Congress president, Sushmita Dev and the chief minister, while terming their statement ridiculous.

“We are a party of our own, and we have our own ideology. I find it ridiculous when leader like the Mahila Congress president was saying that NPP is BJP in time of election. The chief minister was saying we are funded by the BJP as if he is the treasurer of the BJP, because only the treasurer of the BJP will know the money coming and going out of the BJP,” Kharlukhi said.

He said that after being in power in Meghalaya for nine years, and Mukul Sangma as the Chief Minister for eight years, they have no issues while going to elections by bringing out petty issues that the NPP is BJP and BJP is NPP.

“I feel that the Congress is insulting the electorate of Meghalaya who will not accept such ridiculous idea. We appeal to the voters to vote for us and we will not come out with such silly statement. Five years from now after the people voted for us, we will tell the people of what we have done and will not come out with such statement. Our mission document will be like a contract between the people of Meghalaya and the NPP,” Kharlukhi said, adding that the Chief Minister was giving such statement because he has nothing to showcase.

Kharlukhi also quoted a survey which claimed that Meghalaya ranked bottom in various sectors among the small states.

“In general, Meghalaya ranked 10 out of 10 small states. If we look at the overall ranking, it is really pity that Meghalaya ranked the bottom. But if you compare with other small states they are better than Meghalaya. Shillong was once upon a time an education hub of the Northeast but today the state ranked number nine on education, and the saddest part is, infrastructure which we may say is the foundation of the economy of the state ranked at number 10. That’s why they have no issue to go to the public and they brought out these petty issues (BJP is NPP and NPP is BJP),” Kharlukhi said.

Acknowledging that NPP is part of BJP-led NDA government, Kharlukhi said, “I also tried to remind them (Congress) that we were also part of the UPA. During the UPA government, Agatha K. Sangma was the minister and it does not mean that we are Congress, as we are fighting them here.”

Stating that the NPP is fighting the BJP in Meghalaya despite being part of the NDA, Kharlukhi went to the extent of projecting JD (U) leader and Bihar Chief Minister, Nitish Kumar as the next Prime Minister of India.

“I will tell you, we can never know in 2019 that Nitish Kumar will be the Prime Minister you mark my word. We have to work with him too for the development of the state. We need the help of the Centre to develop the state,” he said.

Asked if the NPP was avoiding the BJP in Meghalaya for the sake of political convenience, Kharlukhi said, “We fought against the BJP in Manipur too and we are fighting anywhere against any party. Like I told you, we were with the UPA in the past but we fight against the Congress here.”

But the NPP has never been with the UPA in the past, except when late Purno A. Sangma was with the NCP.

“We were in the NCP that time, but we are the same people now in NPP. We came out of the NCP due to difference of opinion,” Kharlukhi said.

When pointed out that Nitish Kumar is also aligning with BJP, Kharlukhi said, “I am just predicting and may or may not happen.”

On the reason for projecting Nitish as next Prime Minister, Kharlukhi said, “I leave it to the intelligent of the Congress because the way I am looking at from the Northeast, the only person who can unseat the BJP is Nitish Kumar. That is my opinion, and others may look at different way. This is only my personal analysis which I may be wrong also.

To a question that this statement will affect the relationship of the NDA with the NPP as it is also part of NEDA? Kharlukhi said, “I am giving my personal statement and assessment. It does not mean that by giving my assessment I am against (NDA). I am just sharing what we are doing here. Why we are working together as a small state because we need the help of the Centre, but the they keep on saying that we are BJP and the Chief minister stated that we are the agent of BJP which is ridiculous.”

He said that the NPP will form the government on its own in Meghalaya and the party aimed at getting majority.

Asked if the NPP can also work with the Congress? Kharlukhi said, “The Congress here is our opponent. When the need arises we don’t rule out in future. But we are not working with anybody here because we are sure that this time we are getting an absolute majority and we are sure that we don’t have to work with anyone.”