Shillong, Feb 7: BJP leader and Mawsynram legislator Himalaya Shangpliang on Tuesday filed his nomination and assured a civil sub-division for Mawsynram will be created once the BJP is voted to power in the state.

“When we form the new government, the first thing we will do is to inaugurate a civil sub division in Mawsynram,” Shangpliang told reporters.

Expressing confidence to retain the seat, he further assured to construct the Mawphlang-Balat road and to develop Mawsynram into a tourist destination.

According to him, Mawsynram has been neglected by the MDA government, which has only ensured fund flow to Sohra despite the two places sharing equal potential as tourist destinations.

Shangpliang also denied that he was taking the people for a ride by jumping from one party to another. He was elected on a Congress ticket in 2018. He, however, quit the Congress and joined the AITC along with Dr Mukul Sangma and his team. Shangpliang recently resigned as AITC MLA and joined BJP.

“It is the voters who have asked me to go to the BJP. It was not me who was taking them for a ride. It is they who have asked me that there is no future in these parties and therefore, kindly shift over to the BJP as they want development as it is only the BJP that can bring change to the state,” he said.

Shangpliang further expressed confidence that the BJP will be in the government and will bring a change in the state.

On the opposition’s allegation the people of Meghalaya will not accept the BJP, the Mawsynram MLA said, “I would request you to come and see, and meeting the people in the rural areas and you will get the answer to your question because the people of Meghalaya have understood that they need a change now and that change can be brought only by the BJP.”

Asked if he is in the race for the chief ministerial candidate, Shangpliang however said, “All the elected members will sit together (after the elections) to elect a leader.”

Further, the Mawsynram MLA said this is not the time for blame game but it is the time to create and bring development to the state while responding to a query on the performance of MDA government.

He also said he would not say that the MDA government has not done anything but there were ups and there were downs.