Shillong, April 3: The BJP state president Ernest Mawrie said there are three reasons, including anti-Christian propaganda for the poor performance of the party in the just concluded Assembly polls .
The BJP held a meeting on Monday chaired by party central leader Rituraj Sinha to scrutinise the poll outcome .
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Mawrie said the anti-Christian tag is one of the reasons why the party did not perform well in the Assembly elections.
He said the anti-Christian propaganda like demolition of churches gained momentum prior to the polls through social media.
The second reason is the inability of the party workers to strengthen the party at the grassroot level due to the spread of Covid, Mawrie said, adding that the third reason is the misleading acts of political parties and MLAs claiming ownership of central schemes.
“The BJP government has provided so many central schemes to the people of our state in terms of free gas connection, free rice, PM Kisan, JJM and other schemes but this advantage has been taken away by some other parties like the NPP, UDP and others”, he said.
To a question, Mawrie said it is upto the Central leaders to take a decision on change of state party leadership.
That issue ( leadership) I will leave it on the decision of the party. If the party feels that your tenure is over then we will project another president, there is no harm as I cannot sit for long. As per constitution, the term is for three years but the functioning was affected due to Covid but it depends on the decision of the central leaders. I don’t have any problem”, he said.
The state president’s term expired in February, this year.
Mawrie said the term of the national president JP Nadda has been extended till July 2024 and similarly it depends on the centre’s decision for the states as well.
“However, in some states, the party has already changed the presidents”, he added.
He said the party is gearing up for the adjourned Sohiong poll and next year’s district council and Lok Sabha polls.
Corruption issue
Party national general secretary Rituraj Sinha told reporters that the BJP’s stand on corruption will remain unchanged despite supporting the NPP-led MDA-2 government.
“Corruption is a disease in democracy and it is the greatest hindrance to development of a state and welfare of the people. BJP is anti-corruption, it is anti-dynasty and is anti-anybody who is anti-India…BJP has a stand on corruption and that remains unchanged,” Sinha said.
