Shillong, Aug 24: BJP national vice president and party leader in-charge Meghalaya Chuba Ao has said he he has no personal interest to remove state party president Ernest Mawrie.
According to sources, Mawrie is nurturing West Shillong to contest from.the seat whereas the party is hopeful that the sitting MLA Mohendro Rapsang will join the BJP besides HM Shangpliang from Mawsynram.
Sources added that if Mawrie contests from West Shillong, he may have to relinquish the post of the president as he he will not be able to give full time to campaign for other candidates and co-ordinate with the central leaders.
Though Rapsang has not made up his mind, with the division in the BJP, he is not averse to joining the NPP.
Ao shared a statement with Meghalaya Monitor on his views on the current political situation within the state BJP which is reproduced below.
“I am only a foot soldier and I have always been a shubhachintak ( well wisher) of the party. I have always tried to work for the betterment and growth of BJP party in the state.
As a Prabhari ( in-charge), I have been continuously guiding them as much as possible. There is no debate that in political organisations, there will be always groupism, differences of opinions and some misunderstandings but it is my duty to unite them and bring the differences in one table.
I have no personal interest in the State BJP president’s removal or induct someone.
My interest is only national interest, rather I have guided and gave directives to strengthen
the structure of the party only.
Despite receiving innumerable complains from the grassroot to top levels about the
state president, I have always tried only to unite them and think for the party first. I have
been strict and have always laid down some dos and don’ts such as not to go to media all
the time as some things are to be kept in house, every decision they make must be consulted with me or with the two sitting legislators and so on, yet we found that it is lacking.
One day, suddenly the state president said 10-15 MLAs are in contact with him but immediately after 2-3 days he gives statement that even a sitting MLA might not get the party ticket which itself is a very contradicting statement which can demoralise the party karyakatas,inspiring candidates and even the sitting MLAs.
So, I had discussions with some party members regarding the issue and what was
going on. Some persons gave some statements on the media about my views which I have never given to the media myself. After the news was published both the BJP sitting MLAs contacted me and had a discussion after which both of them understood the situation.
We came to an understanding that the things which are going on right now should be settled immediately and both of them have also said they will give full corporation to the state president. I have always been on his side and as a mentor have been giving advises but sometimes he does his own way without consultation which contradicts the entire system which I have warned him several times and repeatedly asked not to do such things”.
M Chuba Ao,
National Vice President,BJP Prabhari, Meghalaya
