Shillong: Lahkmen Rymbui is hitting back at religious leaders. He defended his move to join the BJP on Friday, one day after eight former UDP legislators defected to the party in New Delhi. The Khasi Jaintia Christian Leaders’ Forum slammed the switch as a betrayal. They claimed it showed an obsessive lust for power.
Rev. Edwin Kharkongor, secretary of the forum, spoke out on Thursday. "When an individual or a group of individuals join a political party, we have nothing to say. However, when elected Party MLAs cross over to join another Party from which they were not voted in the beginning, that is a tragic betrayal of the electorate," Kharkongor said. The forum accused the lawmakers of trading their mandate for silver and personal gain.
Rymbui argued that the decision aims to improve the state. He insisted that the critics should stop pointing fingers without knowing the facts. He asked church leaders to pray for the success of their political goals instead. The politician noted that shifting party allegiances is standard practice in Meghalaya. He cited similar political changes dating back to 2013 and 2018. Rymbui admitted the harsh public backlash was both unexpected and unpleasant.
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