The Meghalaya BJP on Tuesday refused to shut the door on nine UDP legislators amid reports that they have opened a line to the party’s central leadership, while stopping short of confirming that talks on a switch are under way.
Chief spokesperson Mariahom Kharkrang would neither confirm nor deny the reports.
There would be “no smoke without fire,” he said, pointing to earlier signs that sitting MLAs had already made contact.
The speculation sharpened after the nine UDP MLAs were reported to have met Union Home Minister Amit Shah. The legislators have maintained that the discussion was about the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill.
Kharkrang said he believed FCRA was on the table, but did not rule out other subjects. The State unit, he added, had received no communication from the central leadership on any induction and was not privy to the details of those talks. “If it is correct, then I think it is an early stage of negotiation,” he said. Any move by sitting legislators would involve “give and take,” and the final call on induction would rest with Delhi — which, he suggested, was why the MLAs would have gone to the Centre directly if the reports were true.
The backdrop is not new. A few months ago, former minister and BJP MLA Alexander Laloo Hek said some sitting MLAs had approached him, without naming them. Kharkrang said parties naturally reach out to experienced legislators, and the BJP has always said it would welcome leaders who wanted to join.