Meghalaya: BJP supports removal of party president Mawrie, claims CM Conrad Sangma

Shillong: In what is seen as a major political development from the state, NPP national president and Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Friday claimed that majority of the BJP leadership, as well as BJP legislators Alexander Laloo Hek and Sanbor Shullai, want BJP state president Ernest Mawrie removed from his position.

“I have spoken to both the MLAs of the BJP and both of them have distanced themselves from the comments he (Mawrie) has made. Both of them (are) in favour of Ernest Mawrie being removed from the post of the State president of the BJP,” Sangma said at a media briefing on Friday.

Mawrie has been ruffling feathers within the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) government with his recent comments on several issues in the state. He recently blamed the NPP-led government of misleading the Centre and Union Minister for Coal Prahlad Joshi on the issue of illegal coal mining and transportation in Meghalaya.

Joshi had recently informed the Rajya Sabha that there was no occurrence of illegal coal mining in Meghalaya or any major revenue loss to the state. His statement invited criticism from several quarters, including the state BJP president, who accused the NPP of misleading Joshi by providing false information on the issue.

Mawrie had also demanded home minister Lahkmen Rymbui to step down following the coal mishap that occurred at East Jaintia Hills earlier in January. Mawrie had alleged deep-rooted corruption in the Autonomous District Council as well.

Giving fire to the political storm on Friday, Sangma said more than half of BJP leaders in the state favour the ouster of Mawrie from the post of president.

“Even the national leadership is upset with the way the BJP president is handling the situation. The rest is up to to the BJP. I am only telling you the internal feelings of the party leaders and more importantly the BJP legislators who are completely against the State BJP president,” the chief minister said.

Also Read: Meghalaya: BJP MLA’s PA found dead