Shillong, Sept 7: Deputy Chief Minister and NPP national vice president Sniawbhalang Dhar has reiterated that the party remains united under the leadership of Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma.
“We in the NPP family are all happy. There is no such move, no dialogue with the BJP. There is no threat at all,” Dhar said dismissing allegations that NPP MLAs are planning to defect to the BJP.
He made it clear that he made the statement both as Deputy Chief Minister and as a party leader who knows the MLAs well.
“Inside the NPP, not even a single MLA has that intention. I am not speaking just as Deputy Chief Minister. I am speaking also as a leader of the party. I know the character and the needs of the MLAs,” he asserted.
He said the allegations are just “speculation” of other political parties.
On 2028 Assembly polls, Dhar predicted that the NPP would cross 33-mark due to its performance, but said the party would continue to respect coalition partners.
“We will respect all our coalition partners and even if we get 33, we will respect all our partners. That is the NPP principle,” he said.
Responding to speculation that nine UDP MLAs are set to join the BJP, Dhar said it was their own decision and not a move initiated by the BJP.
“It is not the BJP pulling them, it is they who want to go to the BJP. Frankly, it seems they are not happy within their own party,” he said.
He also expressed confidence that the present government would complete its full term and that it would retain power in 2028 polls as well.
“We will complete the term and we will continue after 2028 also, no doubt about that,” he said.
Asked if he is ready for the Chief Minister’s post, Dhar said, “That is a totally different question altogether.”
On whether the BJP’s track record of poaching MLAs in other states could be repeated in Meghalaya, Dhar said he was not aware of other states but felt there was “no harm for Meghalaya”.
