A day after quitting the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), former legislator Himalaya M Shangpliang on Thursday announced his decision to join the ruling National People’s Party (NPP) on September 13.
“I am planning to join the NPP and the scheduled date for being inducted in the NPP is on September 13, at the NPP state headquarters office,” Shangpliang, who is also currently the adviser to the Education department, told reporters.
Asked if he will contest the upcoming Lok Sabha polls from the Shillong seat, the former legislator said, “I am making it very clear to you that I am joining the NPP without any conditions. Once I join the NPP, I will be a member of the party and whatever the high command finds me fit with the responsibility, I am ready to shoulder that.”
Also refusing to comment on the recent statement made by deputy chief minister Sniawbhalang Dhar that Shangpliang is one of the ticket aspirants for the Shillong seat, he said, “I leave it to the judgment and the wisdom of the high command of the NPP to utilize my services to the best of my abilities and I am ready to serve the NPP with any responsibility given by them.”
Shangpliang said he has decided to join the NPP after seeing how Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma has brought drastic change and a lot of development in the state of Meghalaya during the last five years.
“Therefore, I thought the NPP is the only party of the State that perhaps could provide the people of the State with the sense of security, the sense of development and a better future,” he added.
Further, Shangpliang claimed that more than 2,000 party workers holding responsible positions in the Mawsynram BJP Mandal have also tendered their resignation letters to the State president and they will all be joining the NPP on September 12, at Mawsynram.
“Prior to my resignation, I had met all my leaders in Mawsynram and I had taken their consent that we are moving out of the BJP. On September 13, all my top leaders will be escorting me for my induction (into the NPP),” he said.
Meanwhile, Shangpliang said there are no flaws in the BJP but the flaws are in the leadership of the state party because there were too many internal conflicts and nepotism which undermined the growth of the party in Meghalaya.
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