SHILLONG, SEPT 12: Ending 15 months of political silence, former United Democratic Party (UDP) strongman Jemino Mawthoh on Saturday joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), terming it a party with direction.
Mawthoh was welcomed into the party fold by state president Rikman G Momin and senior legislator AL Hek.
Taking a swipe at his critics who questioned his shift from regional to national politics, Mawthoh asked, “Why not BJP?”
The former Nongthymmai MLA recalled that BJP was the first to approach him after he resigned from UDP in May last year.
“Kharkrang was the first to respond when my resignation was flagged in the media. He said I am an asset, but I tell you, Kharkrang himself is an asset to the party,” Mawthoh said.
“He is a very important and prospective leader for BJP in Meghalaya. He does not beat around the bush, and we are all impressed with how he defends the party as spokesperson,” he added.
Mawthoh, who was working president of UDP for two years and general secretary for nine years, said his attempt to build one strong regional party failed.
“I spoke to other regional parties. We could not materialize it. I had decided to quit in 2023 after losing the Assembly polls but withdrew on the request of leaders. Finally, after the MP and MDC elections in April-May 2025, I thought it was time,” he said.
“Silence is also good. It is time for introspection. I was disgruntled looking at the state of affairs in Meghalaya. We have so many people with calibre and intelligence but we could never bring them together,” he said.
Justifying his decision, Mawthoh said BJP is the world’s largest party with 14 crore members and 2 crore active workers, in power since 2014 and ruling 22-23 states with allies.
“I see transformation since 2014 in policies, infrastructure, reforms, digital payments, expressways and welfare reaching the last man. During COVID, with 140 crore population now 170 crore, surpassing China, I was apprehensive, but we managed,” he said.
He said Viksit Bharat 2047 and national security were key draws.
“BJP’s vision to make India developed by 2047 can be achieved with our youth power. I was happy when BJP won Assam. With infiltration from neighbouring countries and external forces trying to break the country, if BJP secures the Chicken Neck or Siliguri corridor, small ethnic communities in the Northeast can breathe easy,” he said.
“It is not about money or position. It is about direction. The party is guided by integral humanism, democracy, positive secularism and value-based politics,” he said.
Mawthoh, who polled 2.67 lakh votes in the 2019 Lok Sabha election, thanked the BJP leadership, saying, “Thank you for taking me into your family. I hope I will not be a disappointment.”
