“Non-Congress Govt awaits Meghalaya”

SHILLONG, AUG 8: BJP national spokesman Nalin Kohli today predicts that the ruling Congress is not going to win for a third term as a non-Congress government will be formed in Meghalaya after the Assembly elections, to be held next year.

Speaking to reporters at the sidelines of a meeting chaired by the BJP national general secretary (organization) Ramlalji here, Kohli said, “A non-Congress government is a certainty as of on today when we assess the situation. Now the only question is who is going to be inducted in the non-Congress government and how many seats those parties will have. I don’t think the Congress pitch anywhere shows confidence that they are going to win a third term.”

He alleged that the chief minister Mukul Sangma and his party can only project everything against others but never speaks of their work because they have no performance.

Stating that politics of performance and development is the way forward for India, Kohli said, “Meghalaya deserves not to be in the road map where in 2017 there are wooden bridges in the areas represented by the chief minister…we have crossed that wooden age.”

“What Mukul Sangma needs is a bridge to the people to explain to them why he has not done what he promised instead of finding faults with the BJP which has not govern in Meghalaya,” he added.

He said that the state government in Meghalaya has live up to the reputation of the Congress party’s strategy which is “no development, only politics” adding but people wants development not politics.

Whether the BJP is eyeing to have a pre-poll alliance ahead of the elections which is just six months away, Kohli however said that an alliance can be pre-poll, an alliance can be post-poll but till an alliance is there every party will work for strengthening its own base.

“What will happen in the future I can’t say but that will not stop the BJP from identifying who we think are good (political parties). In Assam, the alliance took place very close to the election, let see,” he added.

Asked on how prepared is the BJP for the elections, the party national spokesman, while claiming that the preparation is far better than earlier, informed that they are already in the final stage of assessment of seats.

“We are in the final stage of assessment the seats and our preparedness for those seats in terms of candidates, of booths and what do we foresee and how do we rate the seats. The process started approximately two weeks ago and it will be over by end of August,” he said.

He said that they have identified the seats based on three areas which is in term of seats that are ranked the highest potential (winning seats), credible performance and those which are not impossible but circumstances can make them good credible seats.

“We are assessing all seats (60) in totality. Based on the assessment, a plan will be launched from September (on what we have to do) which is the activity towards the election,” he said.

Asked, Kohli said that winnability will be the benchmark for allotment of party ticket to the candidates for the upcoming elections.

Stating that party is in 18 states today, he said UP is one of the most historical elections not just for the BJP but for the country. The BJP on its own in UP has won 312 seats out of 434 – the Congress then had won 308 seats.

“Winnability is the critical factor. Elections are fought to win not to lose and in elections everyone’s contribution is important – the organization the candidate and the voters,” he said adding “To us it (Meghalaya elections) is important. We have had our presence in the past we have been in government in the past and I see no doubt that we will be in the government in this election.”

On the recent political development in Tripura where 6 TMC MLAs joins the BJP, Kohli said that it is a good and happy indication for the party (in Meghalaya also) as it is a confirmation that people representatives do not want to be part of a sinking ship.

With regards to the alleged move of the chief minister to contest from two seats (Ampati and Songsak), the BJP leader said he is not surprised by this decision of the chief minister.

However referring to the last MP bye-elections from Tura parliamentary seat, he said, “Congress candidate Dikkanchi D Shira (Mukul’s wife) lost the election in the area which is home grown area of the Mukul family and that is a serious thing.”

Meanwhile, he said that Ramlalji’s visit to the state is purely for organizational works as elections are just six months away. Kohli informed that the national general secretary during his three-day visits will also be visiting the party’s office, which is proposed to be inaugurated by the national president Amit Shah later this month, besides two booths.