Shillong: Senior BJP leader AL Hek has ruled out taking a Cabinet seat or the Deputy Chief Minister position. The Pynthorumkhrah MLA confirmed his decision on Saturday. He wants to focus on party building for the 2028 Assembly elections. Any cabinet shuffle remains Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma’s call. Speculation grew after eight former UDP MLAs joined the BJP. The party now holds 10 seats in the 60-member Assembly.
Hek wants the new recruits to lead. “For me, I am not going to take any ministry berth, very frankly and clearly speaking,” Hek said. He argued the recent arrivals need room to serve. He rejected comparisons between these new members and former Congress MLAs who jumped ship. The new joiners are firm. They intend to bolster the party for 2028.
Hek also addressed the ongoing Meghalaya-Assam border friction. He called for a ground-up approach to guarantee lasting peace. “We have to go till the bottom to resolve the issue in the State of Meghalaya,” Hek said. Officials must consult residents in contested zones. People living there should choose their state affiliation by majority vote.
The first phase of boundary talks successfully resolved six disputed areas. Hek acknowledged that localized clashes might persist. He urged the government to protect the current settlements. He believes minor friction should not undo the broader progress. The priority remains maintaining existing agreements while tackling outstanding claims.
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