Shillong, September 7: Deputy Chief Minister and NPP national vice president Sniawbhalang Dhar on Monday dismissed speculation that legislators of the National People’s Party are planning to join the BJP, asserting that the party remains united under Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma.
Dhar described the reports as “false” and merely speculation being spread by other political parties. “We in the NPP family are all happy. There is no such move, no dialogue with the BJP. There is no threat at all,” he said.
Dhar said he was speaking not only as Deputy Chief Minister but also as a senior party leader who is familiar with the MLAs. “Inside the NPP, not even a single MLA has that intention. I know the character and the needs of the MLAs. We are happy, there is no such thing at all. It is just speculation from other political parties,” he said.
On the 2028 Assembly elections, Dhar expressed confidence that the NPP would cross the 33-seat mark on the strength of its performance. He, however, said the party would continue to respect its coalition partners even if it secures a majority on its own. “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 reports that nine UDP MLAs may join the BJP, Dhar said such a move, if it happens, would be the decision of the legislators concerned and not because the BJP was trying to pull them into the party. “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.
Dhar also asserted that the present government would complete its full term and expressed confidence that the NPP would return to power after the 2028 elections. “We will complete the term and we will continue after 2028 also, no doubt about that. There is no dissent, not at all,” he said. He added that it was too early to speculate on political arrangements after the next Assembly elections.
When asked whether he was prepared to take over as Chief Minister in the future, Dhar said, “That is a totally different question altogether.”
On concerns that the BJP’s alleged strategy of attracting legislators from rival parties in other states could be repeated in Meghalaya, Dhar said he was not aware of the situation elsewhere but did not see any such threat to the NPP in the state.
