2 hrs ago
Mukul Sangma Rules Out Joining BJP, Defends Meghalaya TMC
Mukul Sangma is a leader of the Trinamool Congress in Meghalaya.
He said he will not join the BJP or another national party.
He also said the BJP cannot break his party in the state.
Sangma would not say whether the BJP had contacted him.
He said that having more lawmakers does not automatically mean a party has won over the people.
He believes voters will make that choice.
The TMC has five seats in Meghalaya's 60-seat Assembly.
The report says eight UDP lawmakers are moving toward the BJP, which would bring its total to 10.
Meghalaya Trinamool Congress leader Mukul Sangma said he would not join the BJP or another national party.
Sangma said the BJP could not break the TMC in Meghalaya, but declined to confirm whether it had approached him.
He said the BJP's growth should not be measured only by the number of legislators it attracts.
Sangma argued that Meghalaya voters, rather than MLAs or party workers, would decide the outcome of the BJP's expansion effort.
The TMC has five MLAs in Meghalaya's 60-member Assembly; the article reports eight UDP MLAs moving toward the BJP, which would bring its strength to 10.
- Who
- Mukul Sangma, Meghalaya Leader of Opposition and Trinamool Congress leader.
- What
- He ruled out joining the BJP or another national party and said the TMC could not be weakened in Meghalaya.
- Where
- Meghalaya, India.
- When
- Thursday; no date is specified.
- Why
- He was responding to questions about possible BJP outreach and speculation about the TMC's strength and the BJP's expansion in the state.
Sangma's view
BJP expansion claim
How to assess political expansion
Sangma's view
Sangma said the BJP's expansion cannot be judged just by counting legislators who join it; voters decide, not MLAs or party workers.
BJP expansion claim
The article describes an intensified BJP expansion effort and reports that eight UDP MLAs were moving toward the party, potentially bringing it to 10 legislators.
BJP's prospects in Meghalaya
Sangma's view
Sangma said the BJP could not break the TMC and dismissed the idea that its lotus was blooming in the state.
BJP expansion claim
The BJP was pursuing an expansion strategy, although the article does not include a direct response from the party to Sangma's remarks.
Key facts
- TMC seats
- Five MLAs in the 60-member Meghalaya Assembly.
- Reported BJP movement
- Eight UDP MLAs were reported to be moving toward the BJP.
- Reported BJP strength
- The movement would take the BJP's strength to 10.
- Sangma's position
- He said he would not join the BJP or any other national party.
- TMC's emergence as opposition
- The TMC became the principal opposition after former Congress leaders, including Sangma, joined in 2021.
Quotes
Mukul Sangma
Meghalaya Trinamool Congress leader and Leader of the Opposition
“I don't have to be specific to this answer because I would like to at least respectfully say that I will not answer that. Even if they approach me, I will not tell you.”
NDTV
“Political parties in Meghalaya need not be worried about BJP's expansion plan because it is the people who will decide and not the MLAs, not their workers.”
NDTV
Sources
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