Shillong: NPP candidate and five-time legislator, Martin M Danggo today formally joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ahead of the February 27 assembly elections in Meghalaya.
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He was welcomed by BJP leader and cabinet minister Sanbor Shullai and other party leaders at the party office.
The former Assembly Speaker’s decision also came after the National People’s Party (NPP) had already declared him as its official candidate on January 12.
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Speaking to journalists at his residence after the joining program, Danggo expressed regrets to have left the NPP at the last moment.
“I feel bad to leave at the last moment like this. I respect the chief minister but what can I do without them (leaders and supporters),” he said.
Danggo said that he was left with no option but to go as per the decision of his leaders to join the BJP.
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“On January 30, they had already held a meeting at Shillong Club and decided to resign en masse. So where do I stand when people have already resigned en-mass. Where do I go alone? I have to follow them,” he said.
Responding to the allegation of the NPP leaders that he had betrayed the party, the former legislator said, “Whatever they think let them think but I am going by the decision of my leaders and supporters. That’s all. I have nothing to clarify on that.”
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He refused to comment on the deputy chief minister’s statement by saying, “I respect the leaders (of the NPP). Let them comment whatever they want but I am going by the decision of my people. That’s all.”
Meanwhile, the NPP will take a call on the new candidate for the Ranikor constituency at a meeting to be held at Rangthong on Thursday.
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