SHILLONG: The Meghalaya unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) underwent a significant leadership change on Monday, with the appointment of Rikman Momin as the new state president. The national president of BJP, JP Nadda, officiated the appointment.
Ernest Mawrie, the outgoing state president of BJP, confirmed Momin’s appointment and explained the reason behind the move. “There is a system in the party that when the term is over, we have to elect a new president,” said Mawrie, acknowledging the culmination of his term.
He elaborated on the party’s two methods of presidential selection – nomination and election. “In the case of Momin, the nomination process was followed,” he added. Mawrie had been elected in 2020 through an electoral process when there were multiple contenders for the position.
The transition, however, comes at a time when the Meghalaya BJP is confronting allegations of nepotism. Recently, Himalaya Shangpliang, a key state BJP figure, resigned from the party to join the ruling National People’s Party (NPP), voicing concerns over perceived favouritism among the party’s top echelons.
In his resignation letter, Shangpliang lamented that nepotism was inhibiting the progress of “loyal and dedicated party members” and stressed that the issue, if not addressed, would obstruct the BJP’s growth trajectory.
Responding to these allegations, Mawrie, during his tenure as president, had defended the party’s stance on transparency. “If you refer to the dictionary, nepotism indicates favoring relatives or close friends. But in the BJP office, there’s no sign of such favoritism. We maintain utmost transparency and fairness,” Mawrie had retorted.
Furthermore, a few days ago on September 8, the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) had accused two senior state BJP leaders of facilitating residential and no-objection certificates (NOC) for non-tribals, allowing them to engage in various activities within a Shillong locality.
A war of words had erupted when the council accused Cabinet Minister AL Hek and Sanbor Shullai allegedly granted permission to the president of the then Refugee Rehabilitation Colony Welfare Committee (RRWC) in Shillong’s Rynjah area to issue these documents. Expressing concern, Pyniaid Syiem, Chief Executive Member (CEM) of the council, had stated that such resolutions go against the Elaka Administration Act of the council and infringe upon the authority of the traditional dorbars, as the area falls under the jurisdiction of the Dorbar Shnong of Rynjah, recognised by the KHADC.
