Shillong, Sept 6: BJP leader and former minister JA Lyngdoh quit the BJP on Tuesday.
In a letter addressed to the state party president Ernest Mawrie on Tuesday, Lyngdoh said he felt ‘sidelined, insulted and ostracised’.
He stood second in the last Assembly polls in 2018 losing to Adelbert Nongrum, who secured a winning margin of 400 votes.
The development comes after the joining of former MDC Martamlin Pyrbot and former IG ( prisons) M Kharkrang with the BJP.
Unedited letter of JA Lyngdoh below
To,
Shri. Ernest Mawrie.
State President,
Bharatiya Janata Party,
Meghalaya Pradesh.
Shillong -793001
Dated -6th September, 2022.
SUBJECT: RESIGNATION FROM THE BJP.
With reference to the subject above, I would like to inform you that as of today the 6th of September, 2022, I do hereby resign from the party with immediate effect. I may highlight that the main reason for this resignation is because for the last 4 and a half years , I have felt sidelined, insulted and ostracized from the party , not once, not twice but time and again.
I have always strived to work for the betterment of the party and have always worked to uplift its core value ever since I joined in 2016. I have seen the potential that the party had in bringing about positive and progressive change to our state. The tough and difficult task that was given to me by Shri Nalin Kohli Ji and Shri Ram Madhav Ji to try and pull in prominent sitting MLAs to join the BJP before the election of 2018 was wholeheartedly done by me in all my ability and capability wherein 4 sitting MLAs namely – Mr Sanbor Shullai, Mr A. L Hek, Mr Robinius Syngkon and Mr Justin Dkhar joined . However, the recent and also not so recent turn of events has compelled me to draft my resignation.
There are many reasons for this and I would like to elucidate and clearly mention them below .
• Under your leadership as the President of the party , I have felt a sense of dismay and unfortunately a sense of betrayal as well. This is evident from the very onset of you favouring a then fellow party member Mr. Rocky Hek as candidate from 17th North Shillong after my defeat. Time and again , I have initiated a meeting and a talk with you but it was never materialised.
• After Mr. Rocky Hek resigned this year , I have again tried to materialise a meeting , but to no avail.
What has saddened and shookmy loyalty to the party, is the very fact that a few members of the party and yourself projected Mr. Martamlin Pyrbot for candidature and were present in the formation of the 17th North Mandal Committee whereas it was quite ironic because the Mandal Committee formed by me ,which was convened to be approved in 17th North Shillong was cancelled by the same people at the very last moment . I was informed by Shri. Sanbor Shullai that he was told to deliberately and intentionally not turn up at my residence. This was a matter of great inconvenience and disappointment to myself, my supporters and Karyakartas.
This is a new beginning for me but I cannot miss out on thanking Bah Shibun Lyngdoh, the former BJP President for entrusting me with a goal and a vision. A vision of good governance, wherein I had taken up many issues with the Central leadership like standing up for the Christian community when the event of Good Governance and Digital Day was co-inciding with the auspicious day of Christmas for the Christians . It eventually led to the celebration of the event for a week rather than on the 25th alone and also the Beef Ban issue to name a few. It was because of the goodwill and teamwork with Bah Shibun that we as a party were able to grow.
I also extend my gratitude to Shri Nalin Kohli Ji, Shri Ram Madhav Ji ,Shri Ram Lal Ji, Shri Ajay Jamwal Ji and Shri Jagdamba Ji for their mentorship , guidance and support during my association with the party. They have taught me the importance of the principle of accountability which has greately helped me in my decision making.
For all the reasons mentioned above, and especially for my self respect that has been hurt in due course of time , it is with an extremely leaden heart that I have decided to cut off my association with the Bharatiya Janata Party and hereby resign from all my positions in the party.
Thanking You.
Mr. J A Lyngdoh.
