By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The ruling Congress has decided to adopt a wait-and-watch policy to senior politician Purno A Sangma’s latest move to quit state politics and form a ‘tribal-centric’ political party.
Indicating this here on Wednesday, Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma said, “We will wait and see what he exactly does since he keeps on changing his stand.”
After his unsuccessful bid for Raisina Hill, former Lok Sabha speaker on Tuesday announced his decision to quit state politics and form a ‘tribal-centric’ national party.
Reports say that the new political party is expected to be called the National Indigenous Peoples’ Party. The party is expected to bank on the support of several million tribals in the country
On former NCP leader’s decision to form a party for tribals, Dr Sangma said, “I am very happy with Indian National Congress, a party which has given such a huge platform for leaders belonging to all sections of people across the country irrespective of caste, creed and communities.”
According to him, Purno Sangma was one of the important leaders of Congress prior to his rebellion against Sonia Gandhi on her foreign origin issue.
Echoing a similar view, the MPCC president DD Lapang slammed former Lok Sabha Speaker for his decision to quit state politics and float a national party exclusively for tribals.
“Charity begins at home….No brain drain is necessary when he could contribute so much to state politics,” Lapang said.
Asked whether Congress is relieved to know that the former chief minister is not contesting elections in the State anymore, Lapang said, “With him (Sangma) or without him, the Congress is having an advantage in the coming state Assembly elections.”
“We want to face any thing, any kind of challenge and we will also overcome it,” Lapang said.