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Meghalaya Christian Forum Condemns Eight MLAs’ BJP Switch
Eight lawmakers in Meghalaya moved from the United Democratic Party to the Bharatiya Janata Party.
This gave the BJP more members in the state Assembly.
The Christian leaders’ forum said the lawmakers had broken the trust of the people who elected them.
It said joining a new party after being elected on another party’s platform was wrong.
The forum also accused the lawmakers of seeking power and personal benefits.
It criticised the BJP’s alleged majoritarian approach.
The forum raised concerns about violence in Manipur and attacks on Christians and other minorities.
It said voters would eventually decide how to respond.
The Khasi Jaintia Christian Leaders’ Forum accused eight UDP MLAs of betraying voters by joining the BJP.
The legislators switched parties in New Delhi on Wednesday, increasing the BJP’s Assembly strength from two to 10.
The United Democratic Party’s strength fell from 12 MLAs to four after the switch.
Forum secretary Rev Edwin Kharkongor said the move prioritised power and personal gain over public responsibility.
The forum also criticised the BJP’s alleged majoritarian politics and its positions on minority and indigenous communities.
- Who
- Eight Meghalaya MLAs from the United Democratic Party and the Khasi Jaintia Christian Leaders’ Forum, led in its statement by secretary Rev Edwin Kharkongor.
- What
- The eight MLAs joined the Bharatiya Janata Party, prompting the forum to accuse them of betraying the electorate.
- Where
- The party switch took place in New Delhi and affected Meghalaya’s 60-member Assembly.
- When
- The MLAs switched parties on Wednesday; the forum issued its criticism on Thursday, Sep 24.
- Why
- The forum said the legislators prioritised power and personal gain, while the BJP described by the forum was accused of majoritarian politics affecting minority and indigenous communities.
Key facts
- MLAs changing parties
- Eight United Democratic Party MLAs joined the Bharatiya Janata Party.
- BJP Assembly strength
- The BJP increased its strength from two to 10 MLAs.
- United Democratic Party strength
- The United Democratic Party’s tally fell from 12 to four MLAs.
- Assembly size
- Meghalaya’s Assembly has 60 members.
- Criticising organisation
- The Khasi Jaintia Christian Leaders’ Forum issued the criticism.
- Statement secretary
- Rev Edwin Kharkongor was identified as the forum’s secretary.
- Forum’s main accusation
- It called the crossover a betrayal of voters and alleged that it reflected a pursuit of power and self-gratification.
Quotes
Rev Edwin Kharkongor
Secretary of the Khasi Jaintia Christian Leaders’ Forum
“When an individual or a group of individuals join a political party, we have nothing to say. However, when MLAs cross over to join another party from which they were not voted in the beginning, that is a tragic betrayal of the electorate.”
theprint.in
“For X pieces of silver and a fleeting glitter on an alien platform, these MLAs have violated the trust of the electorate at home.”
theprint.in
Sources
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