Shillong: Major blow to the Congress party in Meghalaya. Former Chief Minister Mukul Sangma has left the party and 11 other MLAs and joined the All India Trinamool Congress.
As per reports, Mukul Sangma and 11 other Congress legislators submitted their letter of resignation to Speaker Metbah Lyngdoh last evening announcing their merger with the TMC.
Sangma is set to brief the media on Thursday (November 25) to announce the move officially. Sources said that he might also travel to Mairang to meet Speaker Metbah Lyngdoh.
Among those who joined the TMC and Sangma are all eight party legislators from Garo Hills and four from Khasi-Jaintia hills. Mukul Sangma hails from the Garo Hills area of Meghalaya. Sources close to Sangma said the former chief minister is offended with the party's high command as he was cornered in the party after selecting Vincent Pala as the party state president.
The leaders who deserted the party from Garo Hills are Rangsakona MLA Zenith Sangma, Mahendraganj MLA Dikkanchi Shira, Ampati MLA Miani Shira, Salmanpara MLA Winnerson D Sangma, Mendipathar MLA Marthon D Sangma, Tikrikilla MLA Jimmy D Sangma and Chokpot MLA Lazarus Sangma.
MLAs from the Khasi-Jaintia Hills region, which left the Congress, include Nongthymmai MLA Charles Pyngrope, Umroi MLA George B Lyngdoh, Mawsynram MLA Hima Shangpliang and Sutnga Saipung MLA Shitlang Pale.
The switchover has dealt a near-fatal blow to the Congress, which faces an existential threat is now reduced to only 6 MLAs in the state assembly. The quit of Mukul Sangma has narrowed down the last bastion of the Congress party in the Northeast.
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