Tura, Aug 12: BJP vice president and Tura MDC Bernard N Marak on Sunday stirred controversy by claiming that newly elected Congress MP from Tura, Saleng A Sangma, owes the saffron party a favor after its Garo Hills cadres and voters backed his candidature for the elections that led to a shock defeat to sitting MP Agatha K Sangma of the NPP.
The BJP leader set the cat among the pigeons with his theory of two opposing parties forming a united front to defeat a common enemy- in this case a joint Congress and BJP jointly taking on the NPP.
“He (Saleng) has to be grateful to the BJP because on one hand the party didn’t put up a candidate, and on the other, I didn’t contest as an Independent. Saleng personally came to my house to appeal for support asking me not to contest,” said Bernard during a talk show with local YouTuber Solly Sangma of Gisik Ni Kurang.
According to the BJP leader, had the BJP contested the polls or himself stood as an Independent, the victory margin of Saleng would have drastically dropped.
“It was a plus point for the Congress when the BJP decided not to contest Tura. If I had gone ahead and contested as an Independent, would the picture been any different? Congress should thank us,” says Marak.
On the massive vote swing in favor of the congress, of which a sizable chunk came from the BJP, Bernard said that saffron voters were unwilling to support the NPP despite directives from its central high command to do so.
“Despite directions from the central leadership, BJP supporters were not willing to support or vote for the NPP because they (NPP) have made enemies with us at the grass root level. The NPP will never want to see us rise because our party gives, whereas the NPP only takes,” taunted the BJP leader as he pointed to the ideological differences clashing often.
“BJP is releasing schemes meant to reach the people at the grass root level, but midway it is cut and obstacles are created for the beneficiaries by a party (NPP) which is our son that came into existence because of BJP’s help and support,” reveals Bernard Marak.
