Four Meghalaya MLAs, including two from the state's ruling National People's Party, joined the BJP today as the party looks to expand its footprints in the north-eastern region ahead of assembly polls in the state.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who is the party's pointsman for the region, said the joining of the four "experienced and respected" political figures will mark a "new beginning" for the BJP in the state, where it could win only two seats in the 60 member-assembly in the 2018 polls.
Though the state's ruling NPP has been a member of the BJP-led National Democratic Party, their relations have been far from smooth. The BJP's decision to induct two of its MLAs, Benedic Marak and Ferlin Sangma, into its fold underscores its determined push to corner the NPP and emerge as a strong force in the state ahead of the polls likely to be held in February.
The two other MLAs who joined the party at its headquarters here are Samuel M Sangma, an independent, and Himalaya Muktan Shangpliang, who is from the Trinamool Congress. It is a big boost to the party, Sarma said.
The Assam chief minister told reporters that under the Narendra Modi government, the north-east, which has eight states, has undergone tremendous change since 2014 and every sector has progressed.
"The north-east has been mainstreamed completely and three BJP state governments (Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur) have been re-elected to power, highlighting the party's address has become permanent in the region," he said, expressing confidence that the BJP will score "spectacular wins" in the upcoming polls in Tripura and Nagaland, besides Meghalaya.
Sambit Patra, who oversees the BJP's organisational affairs for the region, said the north-east will become a new engine of growth for the country under Modi.
BJP national secretary Rituraj Sinha said Meghalaya is ready to join Modi's development agenda.
Shangpliang said the state needed a change and the BJP would deliver it. "It is a great party which has influenced all of us as people are impressed with its development work," he said.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Featured Video Of The Day
7 Dead, Many Critical In Huge Jaipur Fire As 2 Trucks Collide Outside Petrol Pump
Rajasthan Ex-BJP MLA Jailed For 3 Years For Slapping Forest Officer "Shame Parliament Isn't Able To Function": Jayant Chaudhary Slams Congress Ambedkar Row: Congress Doubles Down After BJP's Soros Edit Of Protest Pic 9 Dead, Many Critical In Jaipur Fire As 2 Trucks Collide Outside Petrol Pump Andhra Woman Opens Parcel, Finds Man's Body And Letter Demanding Rs 1.3 Crore Gas Leak, Then Blast: CCTV Shows Moments After Jaipur Crash That Killed 9 India's Steel Imports From China Hit All-Time High: Government Data 'Settle Issues Of 1971': Bangladesh's Muhammad Yunus To Pak PM Shehbaz Sharif Bua Noi, World's Loneliest Gorilla To Spend 36th Christmas In Thai Mall Zoo Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.