IANS

Shillong, Jun 29: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is in for a major setback in Meghalaya with its lone legislator all set to quit the party over its alleged communal credentials.

"I am from a Christian state and hence cannot continue to be with the BJP that still has Hindutva and construction of the Ram temple as its main agenda," A.L. Hek, legislator from Pynthorumkhrah assembly constituency in East Khasi Hills, told IANS.

The veteran BJP leader is now contemplating joining the Congress party.

"I am open to embracing a secular party," Hek said.

The state unit of the BJP is planning disciplinary action against Hek for hobnobbing with the ruling Congress.

"We are keenly watching the development and might take action," a senior BJP leader said.

The BJP legislator is, in fact, seeking expulsion from the party to avoid violating the anti-defection law. Once expelled, he can sit in the assembly as an independent supporting the Congress party.

"I am examining all options. I am not power hungry," Hek said.

The BJP in the northeast suffered a major blow in the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections when both its sitting MPs in Arunachal Pradesh - Khiren Rijuju and Tapir Gao - lost the polls to the Congress.