Shillong, Jul 1 : The lone BJP legislator in the Meghalaya Assembly, A.L. Hek, who is set to join the Congress, today said the reason behind quitting the party was its rigid Hindutva agenda.
Speaking to The Telegraph, the BJP legislator said the Hindutva issue and the aggressive pursuit of the BJP to construct Ram temple had made it difficult for him to continue with the party which he had served for several years.
“As I am from a Christian state, I have no option other than embrace a secular party rather than continue with a party which still has Hindutva as its main agenda,” Hek said.
Another reason for Hek leaving the BJP to join the Congress is to make sure that he wins in 2013 when he faces a delimited constituency.
The present combination of voters in his Pynthorumkhrah constituency will be changed in 2013 when Hek will be seeking re-election.
However, he refuted the allegations that he wanted to join the Congress simply to be in power.
“I had been in the Opposition for more than 10 years and it is not for mere power that I am joining the Congress.”
He also informed that an AICC leader had told him that Congress president Sonia Gandhi had cleared his entry into the party.
He said when the UDP had extended support to the Congress before the formation of the new Meghalaya United Alliance (MUA) government, his name was also forwarded to the Congress.
“I still stand by the list of support where name is also included,” Hek said.
The BJP leader, however, said he would meet the state party leaders before he finally leaves the party. “I am in touch with the state party leaders and I am planning to quit the party in an amicable way,” Hek said.
The BJP legislator made it clear that once he joins the Congress, he will in no way associate with the BJP.
According to the anti-defection law, a legislator cannot leave the parent party and join another party unless he resigns as MLA.
However, if the BJP expels him from the party, then he will remain an Independent legislator because there is no bar for an Independent to get associated with any political party. “I am exploring various options for a safe exit from the BJP,” Hek added.