Shillong, October 6: Meghalaya BJP president Rikman G Momin on Tuesday denied any attempt by the BJP to poach NPP MLAs, amid reports of political outreach to legislators of the ruling party. At the same time, Momin reiterated that the BJP’s doors remain open to anyone willing to join the party.
Speaking to reporters, Momin said the NPP was an ally of the BJP and there was no question of approaching its MLAs. “Why should we approach? The NPP is our alliance and we are accommodated in the MDA government,” he said. He added that the BJP would welcome anyone who wanted to join the party and work for the people of Meghalaya.
Asked specifically about the possibility of TMC MLAs joining the BJP, Momin said “anyone can join the party”, while maintaining that he was not referring to any particular legislator. He also said he had not received any feelers from NPP MLAs.
Momin maintained that the BJP was not approaching anyone, but reiterated that anyone who wished to join the party was welcome. He also rejected the perception that the BJP carried an “anti-Christian” tag, saying the party remained open to people irrespective of their background.
On the recent entry of eight UDP MLAs into the BJP, Momin said the party had not demanded additional Cabinet berths for the legislators who joined the BJP after leaving the UDP.
He also asserted that the merger of the eight UDP MLAs with the BJP was legal, although the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly Speaker is yet to formally approve the merger. Momin maintained that the process was valid and that the party had proceeded in accordance with the provisions governing such political realignment.
