Shillong, Aug 24: The BJP on Friday said that it was committed to the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) coalition government and that it must complete its tenure and deliver to the people its promises and agendas of development.

However the BJP which is part of the ruling coalition defended the delay to find solution to the ban on coal mining in the state, which was enforced by the National Green Tribunal since April 17, 2014.

While campaigning for the February-27 Assembly elections this year, the BJP promised to find solution to lift the ban on coal mining in Meghalaya within six to eight months from the day it formed the government.

“The BJP is a participant there (coalition government) and we don’t drive the government. We respect the coalition dharna. The final decision on policies and decision to be taken is by the chief minister and his cabinet. The government is there with Conrad K Sangma as the chief minister. I am sure the government is working for its agenda after we are a participant in the government. This is an NPP led coalition government and we have no reason to believe that the government is not working on a positive agenda for the development of Meghalaya,” Kohli told reporters

Kohli also said that the BJP was committed to the coalition and expected that government must complete its tenure and must deliver to the people its promises and agendas of development.

“In the coalition dharna, the role of each party is recognized and each party has to play for the coalition to succeed. The people of Meghalaya have given the NPP the biggest chunk of seats and chance to lead the government with the support of others with common agenda. During election campaign, any political party will campaign and aspire to form a government on its own strength. But when the mandate came, we respect that mandate in victory and in defeat. Therefore there are policies and priorities and agenda that will be decided by the coalition government,” Kohli said.

The MDA government is formed by the NPP, UDP, PDF, BJP, HSPDP, NCP and Independents.

The Congress which was in power in the last 15 years, now sits in the opposition.