Shillong, Aug 28: The announcement of the BJP that two Independent legislators, Robinus Syngkon and Justine Dkhar have joined the party turned into a drama, with the MLAs refuting the claim.
A press statement issued by BJP state vice-president, J.A. Lyngdoh in Shillong on Monday, claimed that the two sitting MLAs from Jaiñtia Hills have joined BJP in New Delhi.
The statement said that Syngkon and Dkhar joined the party in New Delhi in the presence of BJP national president, Amit Shah and other BJP leaders which include Assam finance minister, Himanta Biswa Sarma, BJP leader in-charge Meghalaya, Nalin Kohli, state BJP president, Shibun Lyngdoh. Businessman from Jaiñtia Hills, Thomas Nongtdu and Rollingson Dkhar were also present.
The statement also said that sitting MLA, Stephanson Mukhim handed over a memorandum to the BJP national president on behalf of the Coordination of Coal Dealer’s and Miner’s Association regarding the need to apply Para 12 (a)(b) of the Sixth Schedule through a Presidential notification to exempt coal mining in the state from the Central law.
“Joining of these two leaders (MLAs) will definitely give a huge boost to the party in the ensuing Assembly election in 2018 not only in Jaiñtia Hills but in the entire state. The general Assembly elections in many states have shown that people have already favoured the BJP. So also it will happen here in Meghalaya. The general public have already made up their mind that the BJP is the only option in this coming election and this will happen because of the main slogan ’Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas’ of our Prime Minister. We can assure the people of Meghalaya that overall development of the State will take place only if BJP is voted to power and a corruption-free government is ensured,” the statement added.
However, when contacted, BJP Meghalaya unit president, Shibun Lyngdoh who is still camping in New Delhi, contradicted the announcement of his party in the state capital , when he said that the two Independent MLAs have only assured that they would join the BJP.
“During the meeting with our party’s national president (Amit Shah), they have promised that they would join our party, and a date will be fixed for their official joining in Shillong soon,” Lyngdoh said.
Similarly, when contacted, Dkhar who is in New Delhi , admitted that he along with two other legislators – Syngkon and Stephanson Mukhim met the BJP leaders in New Delhi, but refuted the claim that they have already joined BJP.
“It is a fact that we met them and handed over a memorandum related to the ban on coal mining in the state and the need to take steps to get the ban lifted as well as by applying Para 12 (a)(b) of the Sixth Schedule through a Presidential notification to exempt coal mining in the state from the Central law. Along with the memorandum, we also attached a resolution passed by the state Assembly on this particular issue,” Dkhar said.
“During the meeting they told us to join the BJP and we told them that we are ready to join provided that the problem can be solved,” Dkhar claimed.
Maintaining that he his colleagues are still supporting the Congress-led government, Dkhar said, “if we have to join the BJP, we would first resign from the government.”
Sources said that the sitting Independent legislators would have to resign from state Assembly before they officially join the BJP since the anti-defection law does not allow Independent legislators to join any political party without giving up their membership after they were elected as Independent.
The three Independent MLAs are holding the post of parliamentary secretary in the Mukul Sangma-led government since 2013.
While Syngkon is in-charge of horticulture, and legal metrology, Dkhar is in-charge of education and social welfare. Mukhim is the parliamentary secretary in-charge sports and youth affairs, and cooperation.