SHILLONG, AUG 14: BJP state president Ernest Mawrie said that the party is not aware about the move of the suspended Congress legislator from West Shillong Mohendro Rapsang to join its fold ahead of 2023 assembly elections in the state.

He was reacting to the recent statement of the party’s national executive member and former cabinet minister AL Hek that Rapsang is one among the sitting legislators who have expressed their interest to join the BJP.

“It is the statement of Hek as Rapsang has not approached us, especially the party and I as a president, we have not met him also,” Mawrie said.

He also made it very clear that anybody who is vying for the party ticket will have to go through lots of procedures like joining the party as a primary member and should be an active member of the party – to be eligible for the ticket.

Mawrie cited that in the last elections in Assam, many sitting MLAs were denied tickets due to this fact.

“The BJP is very different as you have to be in line with the organization, with the survey and with everything. Until and unless all these things are in proper way, we cannot say that yes we can allot ticket to Mr A, B or C. That is the procedure of the party not only in Meghalaya but throughout the country,” he added.

Hek’s statement was also made despite knowing that Mawrie had already decided to contest from West Shillong constituency in 2023.

Mawrei also expressed concern that the recent joining of people from Mawsynram who mostly are supporters of AITC MLA Himalaya Shangpliang was done in a rush.

“I don’t have anything against them but the only thing is that we have a system in the party, we welcome anybody to join but since we have the mandal there at the district – so they have to inform to them also,” he said adding “So we welcome anybody not only Shangpliang’s supporters or anybody’s supporters as I said the door is open, we welcome everyone to join us.”

On the other hand, Mawrie said the joining of any VIP or anybody has to go through the president.

“That’s the procedure we follow since we are a presidential part. We are a national party and in any state the president of the party has to communicate all these things and no other members as the MLA has got his own role to play…We have the president then the president will decide and he has to receive people and make them join that is the procedure actually,” he stated.

Meanwhile, Mawrie said that the party would soon invite the two MLAs – Hek and South Shillong legislator Sanbor Shullai to resolve any indifferences between the two.

“So it is still lying pending till today. Just after Independence Day it is the direction from the centre we are going to have the state executive meeting and before that we will call them (MLAs) to resolve this problem,” he said.

He said the state office bearers meeting had earlier decided to invite both the MLAs but unfortunately Hek had to go to London while Shullai was also hospitalised last month.

“However we will sit together and resolve this communication gap,” Mawrie assured.