SHILLONG, JAN 24: Congress national general secretary in-charge Meghalaya CP Joshi today said there is no space for BJP’s ideology in the state even as he exuded confidence that the Congress will get two-thirds majority after the ensuing polls.
“With the culture and the way of life of particularly the people of Meghalaya, ideologically speaking there is no space for the BJP and its ideology here,” Joshi told journalists here on Wednesday before leaving for New Delhi.
The All India Congress Committee (AICC) leader, who arrived yesterday in the state’s capital, also met chief minister Mukul Sangma and MPCC chief Celestine Lyngdoh to get feedback on the state leadership’s preparedness for the upcoming Assembly polls.
Joshi was also handed with the recommendations of the Pradesh Election Committee by the state leaders for placing before the AICC’s screening committee and central election committee headed by Rahul Gandhi for finalizing the names of candidates.
The Congress national leader further stated that the BJP is busy poaching candidates from other parties and yet it is hoping to be able to form the government in Meghalaya.
Former minister of the Congress-led MUA-II government AL Hek recently joined the BJP while other six former legislators resigned and joined the National People’s Party (NPP), which is also an NDA-ally at the centre.
Asked how tough the fight is going to be for the Congress with other political parties allegedly working together the BJP, Joshi however said that this question should instead be directed to the BJP as to how they will create their space.
Claiming that the BJP is not at all a “potential threat”, he said, “We don’t consider the BJP as a potential threat to us because the people of knows how the NPP are hands in glove with the BJP.”
Besides the NPP, Joshi said that most of the regional parties are also members of the BJP-led North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA) which clearly indicated that they are supporting the BJP directly or indirectly.
“Therefore in parliamentary democracy, ideology is important and there will be no space for BJP’s ideology in this state,” he added.
Whether it is a fact that the party is finding it difficult to get candidates in constituencies of former Congress legislators, who have left the party, AICC general secretary said, “Who said it? We have large number of applicants from all the seats, so don’t have this wrong impression.”
To another query, Joshi claimed that the party is also having “winning horses” from such constituencies.
“You know it is a multi-cornered election, we have the regional parties and the BJP is hoping to create its space but we have our presence from the day the state was carved out. Congress is presence in every nook and corner of the state,” he said.
Expressing confidence that the Congress will come back to power, Joshi said, “We have potential candidates and we will form the government not by majority but this time it will be a surprise we may get two-thirds majority.”
Just a head of the announcement of the polls, a Rs 70 crore scheme for development and repairing religious and spiritual circuits in the state was also announced by the Union Tourism Minister KJ Aphons in a bid to woo voters in the state.
However, two major churches in Meghalaya – Catholic Church and the Mawkhar Presbyterian Church have announced they are against such a move which may be read otherwise and trying to use the church in electoral politics.
Asked, the AICC leader expressed surprise at such announcement made by the Union government without the recommendation from the state government and alleged that the strategy was to woo the voters of the state.
“Have you heard at any time that Government of India without the recommendation of the states suo-moto decides the packages for religious institutions? I don’t know it is surprising to me that this is how they want to woo the voters of the state,” he said.
Stating that Meghalaya is one of the important states of the country, Joshi also wondered why these things were not known to the BJP government which has been at the centre for the last four years that “we need to develop very important state from a tourism point of view”.
“So (this is) just gimmicks to have votes here, I don’t think the people of the state will even response to it,” he stated.
With regards to the announcement of candidates, the AICC leader said the names recommended by the Pradesh election committee will be considered by the screening committee appointed by Rahul Gandhi.
“This list by the Pradesh election committee will be considered by the screening committee then it will go to the central election committee headed by Rahul Gandhi for its approval. After that, the names will be declared,” he said.
Not willing to disclose further details, he however said that party will likely announce the candidates for all the 60 seats before the start of filing of nominations for the upcoming polls which is slated to be held on February 27.
On the preparedness of the party especially following desertion by ex-MLAs, Joshi said in every election, few politicians shift from one party to the other there is nothing new in it.
“But our party has performed well for five years, we are hopeful our party will form the government,” he said.
By Our Reporter
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