Shillong, Nov 25, : Mukul Sangma (Meghalaya opposition leader) joined the Trinamool Congress on Wednesday night.He said that the Congress was no longer an effective opposition in the country, and that the TMC would be a pan India viable alternative party. According to reliable sources, Prashant Kishor, a political strategist, and his team members, have been camping in Shillong over the past two months.They are believed to have orchestrated the defections.
Moloy Ghatak, a West Bengal minister, and Manas Bhunia, a senior Trinamool leader, arrived here on Thursday afternoon to meet with Sangma and the MLAs.
Ghatak, Bhunia welcomed the newcomers and handed TMC flags over to Sangma and other participants in a simple ceremony.
Vincent H.Pala, President of the State Congress and Lok Sabha Member, said in Shillong the desertion by the 12 MLAs was not a setback to the party.It is a new challenge that Congress leaders are able to meet.
Sangma, a former Chief minister of Meghalaya (2010-2018), stated that the Congress did not fully exploit their potential and that they were unable be an effective opposition party to Meghalaya.”To be an effective opposition party, and to serve the people according to their wishes, we have joined Trinamool Congress.Despite meeting the central leadership on several occasions, our commitment to the people was not fulfilled,” Sangma, accompanied by the 11 MLAs, told the media in Shillong.
The 56-year old leader stated that the Congress won 21 seats in the 60-member assembly’s 2018 assembly elections, making it the largest party.However, it couldn’t form the government.
On Thursday, Sangma and the other MLAs met Metbah Lyngdoh, the assembly speaker.They claimed to be the main opposition party.
Later, the Speaker stated that he would need to review the procedures regarding Sangma’s claims and those of the other MLAs as per the Tenth Schedule.The TMC has 12 MLAs, including four legislators hailing from Khasi-Jaintia Hills and eight from Garo Hills.
The 12 MLAs are Mukul Sangma (Songsak), Charles Pyngrope (Nongthymmai), Himalaya Shangpliang (Mawsynram), George B Lyngdoh (Umroi), Shitlang Pale (Sutnga-Saipung), Dikkanchi D Shira (Mahendraganj), Miani D Shira (Ampati), Zenith Sangma (Rangsakona), Marthon J Sangma (Mendipathar), Jimmy D Sangma (Tikrikilla), Winnerson D Sangma (Salmanpara) and Lazarus M Sangma (Chokpot).The Congress, which was the main opposition party to the assembly since 2018, has lost its strength to five, as other MLAs have died or left.
Sangma, a politician and physician, was upset by the September appointment of Vincent H.Pala, Shillong Lok Sabha member, as the state Congress President.According to reports, he met Trinamool’s National Secretary Abhishek Bangerjee in Kolkata last month, sparking speculation about a rift in the Congress in the northeastern region.Sangma described it as a courtesy meet.
The latest development is that a triangular contest will be held in the 2023 assembly election between the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA), the Congress, and the National People’s Party (NPP).
Mamata Banerjee (West Bengal Chief Minister, TMC supremo) is pleased with the latest political development in northeast India.
She has been trying to expand the party’s reach beyond Bengal since March-April’s assembly election victory.Meghalaya is the latest state in Bengal, as the ruling party in Bengal’s expansion mission has made inroads in Tripura and Goa, Assam.Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Haryana, Bihar, and Bihar.
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