BJP announces temporary freeze on new inductions in Hills

BJP announces temporary freeze on new inductions in Hills

REZA PRADHAN

DARJEELING,: Darjeeling District BJP president Sanjeev Lama on Saturday said that
leaders or representatives from other political parties, especially the TMC,
would not be inducted into the BJP for the time being.

The
announcement comes at a time when several leaders and supporters in the Hills
are changing political affiliations following the TMC’s defeat in Bengal. In
recent days, many people have been seen joining the BJP and its allies,
including the Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF) and the Gorkha
JanmuktiMorcha.

“We
have not come here to do politics of flags as we feel that the people here have
chosen us so work can be done for them. There are a lot of issues in the Hills
that need to be solved and we will concentrate on that,” Lama said over the
phone.

“For
that, we have decided to stop joining programmes for about three months. Even
after that, we will not take those people who were holding posts in any party.
We will give preference to people who have vision, sincerity and energy, and
who can create good leadership. We do not want to work with the same type of
old leadership,” he added.

Lama
further said that the rule would apply to office-bearers of all political
parties in the Hills.

When
asked about those who had joined the BJP in recent days, Lama said, “There were
people who joined us recently and that is why we are putting a stop to it for
the moment. However, those joining us were only cadres of other parties who did
not hold any post or carry out organisational work for their party.”

He
added that the BJP would also refrain from inducting cadres of other parties as
members for the next three months, after which the party would decide its
future course of action.

Lama
further warned that if any joining programmes were held during this period,
action would be taken as per the instructions of the party high command.