Exclusive
BJP Meghalaya in-charge Anit Anthony is likely to visit Shillong in October amidst speculation over a possible move by eight United Democratic Party (UDP) MLAs to the BJP, even as the party maintains a studied silence on the reported political realignment.
Speaking to Meghalaya News 24, Anthony confirmed that he is likely to be in Shillong in October to participate in the Seva Sankalp Abhiyan programme, although the dates have not yet been finalised. Asked about the political developments and reports of prospective entrants into the BJP, including the reported eight UDP MLAs, Anthony said, “These are confidential information in the party, we don’t want to divulge any information right now. off the record , I can speak but in Meghalaya we want the party to grow. On record two former MLAs have joined the party.”
The State BJP in-charge further said the party was in discussions with several people interested in joining the organisation, but maintained that such deliberations were part of the party’s internal affairs.
“We are speaking to multiple people who are interested to join and those are our internal party affairs,” the state BJP Incharge said.
Anthony also remained non-committal on the reported movement of the eight UDP legislators and did not disclose whether any formal decision had been taken on their possible entry into the BJP.
On his proposed visit to Meghalaya, Anthony said, “Sometimes in October I will be , dates are not planned,” he added.
Anthony also did not divulge whether his visit would coincide with the proposed visit of Union Home Minister and senior BJP leader Amit Shah to Meghalaya, which is being speculated for the first week of October.
“There are lot of rumours going around but these are internal affairs of the party,” Anthony said.
The BJP currently has two MLAs in the 60-member Meghalaya Assembly. The party had also won two seats in the 2023 Assembly election. If the reported move of eight UDP MLAs materialises, the BJP’s strength in the State legislature would rise to 10, taking the party into double digits for the first time in Meghalaya’s electoral history. Historical election data shows the BJP’s highest Assembly tally so far has been three seats, recorded in 1998.
The reported political shift has assumed significance as the BJP seeks to expand its organisational and legislative footprint in Meghalaya ahead of the 2028 Assembly election
