Meghalaya Politics Highlights: No irregularity in Cong MLAs' joining TMC, says speaker

In a massive jolt to the opposition Congress in Meghalaya, 12 of its 17 MLAs led by former chief minister Mukul Sangma joined Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress. With the latest political development, despite not winning any seat in the 2018 Assembly elections to the 60-member assembly, the Trinamool Congress became the main opposition party in Meghalaya house. Stay tuned for more updates.

Trinamool to be an effective opposition party: Mukul Sangma

Opposition leader Mukul Sangma, who along with 11 Congress MLAs joined the Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Wednesday night, on Thursday said that the Congress has failed as an effective opposition party in the country and the TMC would be a pan-India viable alternative opposition party.

Reliable sources said that political strategist Prashant Kishor and his team members, who have been camping in Shillong for the past two months, apparently engineered the defections.

State Congress President and Lok Sabha Member Vincent H. Pala said in Shillong that the desertion of the 12 MLAs is not a setback for the party, it is a new challenge and the Congress leaders know how to face the challenge

No irregularity in Cong MLAs' joining TMC, says Meghalaya speaker

Meghalaya Assembly Speaker Metbah Lyngdoh on Thursday said he is examining the letter written by 12 of the 17 Congress MLAs of the state informing him that they have joined the Trinamool Congress, and there is no irregularity in the matter.

Lyngdoh said he has also received another letter from TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee who recognised the 12 legislators as members of his party.

“I have received their letter and I am examining it. Whatever needs to be done will be done at the earliest,” Lyngdoh told journalists here.

If others join same style, how are they different: Surjewala takes dig at BJP's 'brand of politics'

Taking a dig at the BJP, Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala on Thursday alleged while the saffron party has been using “power of currency” to topple elected governments, if others join the same style and brand of politics, then how are they different.

His comments came on the day 12 Congress MLAs of Meghalaya joined the Trinamool Congress.

Surjewala was commenting on the remarks by senior party leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury who had said that a conspiracy was being hatched to break the Congress not only in Meghalaya, but the whole northeast.

“In democracy, people vote to elect you. Anything else is murder of democracy and a betrayal of people's vote, nothing more, nothing less. Why does everybody blame the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi because Modi does not believe in the power of ballot,” he said at a press conference.

Unfair to blame Rahul for defection in Meghalaya Cong: BJP

Taking a dig at Rahul Gandhi over 12 Meghalaya Congress MLAs joining the Trinamool Congress, the BJP on Thursday said that it was unfair to blame him for the defection as 'age is still on his side'.

In a major setback for the Congress, at least 12 of the 18 party MLAs led by former Chief Minister Mukul Sangma joined Trinamool Congress.

Co-incharge West Bengal BJP, Amit Malviya said that he (Rahul Gandhi) didn't ask the MLAs to leave.

"It is unfair to blame Rahul Gandhi for the defection in Meghalaya. He didn't ask them to go. They just decided to leave. And what is the hullabaloo about? The next Assembly election is in 2023. The 12 legislators continue to sit in the opposition. Rahul still has age on his side," Malviya, also in-charge of the BJP's national information and technology department, tweeted.

This group of 17 we have, collectively demonstrated our commitment, says Sangma

Former Chief Minister of Meghalaya Mukul Sangma said that the commitment towards the state has superseded everything else. "We are failing in our duty as far as the role of the opposition is concerned."

Post-poll there were activities to poach our members: Mukul Sangma

Mukul Sangma says a complete sense of commitment towards serving the peope brought them to take this decision. "In 2018 Assembly elections, we were confident of forming govt but we could not," he added.

There is a need for a strong, pan-India, political alternative, and Congress has failed to respond to this call, Mukul Sangma says

Mukul Sangma says, decision to leave INC 'conscious decision' and taken in the interest of 'duty and responsibility'

The Trinamool Congress has made inroads in Meghalaya, which has been in growth mode for the previous few months

Its gains have come at the expense of the Congress in Assam, Goa, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Haryana.

The Modi govt has focused on the northeast region since it came to power: Amit Shah

Home Minister Amit Shah, while speaking at an event said that the Northeast region is ready to play therole of contributor in the development of the country. "We want to move forward with three E's-'Empathy,Empowerment,Enabler'- in the region," he added.

Congress MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury alleges 'conspiracy to break Congress across North-east'

"This conspiracy to break Congress is happening not only in Meghalaya, but whole northeast. I challenge CM Mamata Banerjee to first elect them on TMC's symbol&then formally welcome them to her party," saysCongress MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury

Former India batsman Kirti Azad, from Bihar, among those who jumped ship from Congress to TMC recently

Team India batsman Kirti Azad, Rahul Gandhi's aide Ashok Tanwar, and Janata Dal (United) Rajya Sabha MP Pawan Verma, who had a falling out with Nitish Kumar, have all switched parties

All 12 Congress MLAs who shifted parties will address a press meet in Shillong this afternoon

'Why? Is it mandatory?' Mamata Banerjee on meeting Sonia Gandhi in Delhi

Although there have been speculations of a meeting, TMC president Mamata Banerjee has not met her Congress counterpart Sonia Gandhi.'Why should we meet Sonia every time? It is not constitutionally mandated,' said Ms Banerjee.

Read more

Congress in-charge of Meghalaya Manish Chatrath will visit Shillong today

Congress in-charge of Meghalaya Manish Chatrath will visit Shillong today, after TMC claimed that 12 Congress MLAs from Meghalaya have joined the party.

'Meghalaya will teach a lesson to Traitor': Manickam Tagore takes dig a Mukul Sangma for joining TMC

Tagore on Thursday tweeted that Sangma betrayed the INC after he "promised that he will work as loyal congress man"
"Meghalaya will teach a lesson to Traitor Mukul," the Congress leader said.

TMC set to be main opposition in Meghalaya Assembly

The Trinamool Congress is set to become the main Opposition party in 60-member Meghalaya Assembly

Mukul Sangma the latest after Captain in the list of CMs who left Congress

Mukul Sangma joins list of former Congress Chief Ministers to leave the party, since 2014, which includes Amarinder Singh, Vijay Bahuguna, Ajit Jogi, SM Krishna, Narayan Rane.

I was already with Mamata, don't need to join TMC, says BJP leader Subramanian Swamy

Subramanian Swamy, amemberof the Rajya Sabha,did not switch overto the Trinamool Congress, which of late opened up its door to disgruntled politicians of other parties in its bid to expand beyond West Bengal.“I have already been with her (Banerjee),” he told journalists, as the Trinamool Congress chief welcomed him at the official residence of her nephew and the party’s general secretary Abhishek Banerjee in New Delhi.

Read more

In a major blow to Congress, 12 Meghalaya MLAs join TMC

In a major setback for Congress, at least 12 of the 18 party MLAs led by opposition leader Mukul Sangma have joined Trinamool Congress (TMC), party sources have said.

Read More