1 more MLA in Meghalaya parts ways with Cong
Shillong, Jan. 1: Senior Meghalaya Congress MLA A. L. Hek on Monday announced that he would part ways with the party and join the BJP on Tuesday, dealing a blow to the ruling party in the state, ahead of the Assembly polls.
Mr Hek, along with three other MLAs, will be officially inducted into the saffron party at a rally at the Golf Links ground tomorrow, state BJP president Shibun Lyngdoh said.
The development came days after five Congress MLAs, including former deputy chief minister Rowell Lyngdoh, resigned from the Assembly and announced that they would join the National People’s Party ( NPP), an ally of the BJP in the NDA, on January 4.
Along with them, three other legislators — one from the UDF and two Independents — have also decided to cross over to the NPP, headed by Conrad K. Sangma, the son of former Lok Sabha speaker P. A. Sangma.
“I will put in my resignation, before joining the BJP in the afternoon ( tomorrow), along with my friends,” Mr Hek said.
He added that the decision to join the saffron party was taken after a thorough consultation with his supporters, friends and family members. The former state health minister said he was more inclined towards the BJP because of its “sabka saath sabka vikas” agenda and anticorruption stand.
Mr Hek joining the BJP will be his “home- coming” as he had left the saffron party and joined the Congress in 2009. He was a state minister until last year. — PTI