Shillong: BJP MLA AL Hek said political parties should not cling to power, asserting that governments eventually face anti-incumbency and power cannot be retained permanently.
His remarks came amid the BJP’s growing strength in Meghalaya following the recent entry of eight UDP MLAs into the party. The BJP is an alliance partner of the NPP in the MDA government.
Asked whether the increase in BJP numbers was giving the NPP “sleepless nights”, Hek said every political party must work to keep its members together.
“Every political party, irrespective of any particular political party, has to keep their flocks together,” he said.
Hek also claimed that some members were seeking to join the BJP but could not do so because of the anti-defection law and the numbers required to avoid disqualification.
On whether the NPP could learn from the BJP’s approach to power, Hek said political power was temporary and should not be treated as something permanent.
“Power will come and power will go. The power cannot remain for long,” he said.
“You will see, always power is there and you will see also in some years the anti-incumbency will be there. So we should not be clinging all the time to power.”
Hek said political leaders needed to focus on humanity and respect for others rather than becoming attached to power.
He warned that arrogance and an obstinate attitude could affect a leader’s political longevity, saying he had witnessed similar developments during his nearly three decades in politics.
However, when asked directly whether he was describing the NPP as arrogant, Hek clarified that arrogance should not be attributed to an entire political party.
“I am not saying any. First, arrogance is not towards a party. Arrogance is individual only. Why blame the party?” he said.
Hek said this applied across political parties, including the Congress, BJP, TMC, NPP and UDP.
“There is no arrogance on the party side. If an individual is arrogant, it is the individual alone,” he said.
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Hek said governments and chief ministers had come and gone over the years and no party could expect to remain in power permanently.
“We cannot rule permanently. That’s why the party is there and also the anti-incumbency is always there. You cannot say that you will rule forever,” he said.
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