The Meghalaya BJP has done it again. In 2018, just ahead of the Assembly elections, the party had promised to lift the ban on coal mining within six months of coming to power. On Tuesday, the party has once again made a big announcement of implementation the Inner Line Permit (ILP) in Meghalaya before the 2023 Assembly elections.

“It may happen. Let us wait as the matter is under examination and the Centre has to study the pros and cons,” State BJP president Ernest Mawrie said on Tuesday.

Asked to confirm the ILP implementation date, Mawrie said: “We can’t say now. Another five months are left so let us see”.

Mawrie explained that the matter was under active consideration of the Home Ministry. “The matter is under MHA and they will see if the mechanism (ILP) will benefit the people,” he said, adding that the implementation of ILP is a priority for the party and it has been continuously raising the issue whenever any central leaders visit the state.