Shillong, April 5 (IANS) – BJP Minister in Meghalaya A.L. Hek has dismissed allegations against the National People’s Party (NPP) of damaging the party’s prospects by coercing them not to field candidates in the Lok Sabha polls. Hek stated, “I have not seen the NPP doing anything wrong with the BJP.”
Earlier, BJP state vice president Bernard N. Marka accused NPP legislator Sanjay A. Sangma of insulting BJP supporters by claiming NPP as a dominant force in Meghalaya. Marka demanded an apology from Sangma and called for the attention of other state BJP leaders to the issue.
Minister Hek refuted the blame on NPP and clarified that the decision of not fielding candidates in two parliamentary seats in Meghalaya was made by the top leadership of the BJP. He confirmed discussion with Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma regarding the matter and urged BJP leaders and workers to avoid provocation.
“Our target is for BJP and the NDA (partners should) to win 400 seats,” Minister Hek emphasized. BJP and NPP have been partners in the ruling government in Meghalaya since 2018, despite fighting the 2023 Assembly elections separately and engaging in intense campaigning against each other. Following the election results, BJP extended support to NPP to form the state government.
