By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: With the exception of one MLA, the Meghalaya unit of the NCP on Friday merged with the ‘tribal-centric’ National People’s Party (NPP) at a gala function here even as NCP chief Sharad Pawar dissolved the Meghalaya state NCP committee and constituted an ad-hoc state committee with Sanbor Shullai as convenor.
There was a symbolic dissolution of the NCP state unit when former NCP state president WR Kharlukhi removed the flag of the NCP and hoisted the NPP flag on the premises of the party’s State headquarters, which had earlier functioned as the NCP office.
Altogether 13 out of 14 NCP legislators, including two of Sangma’s sons Conrad (Leader of Ppposition) and James Sangma, backed their father. However, Sangma’s daughter and Union Minister of State, Agatha Sangma, and lone Rajya Sabha member from Meghalaya Thomas Sangma have decided to remain with the NCP.
The NPP Meghalaya unit would be headed by NCP’s former president W Kharlukhi.
Addressing the gathering during the formal launch, NPP national president Purno A Sangma asserted that the party will build a new India through the efforts of his new party.
According to Sangma, there are altogether 46 reserved seats in the country for tribals and eleven more seats from which tribal candidates always win despite those being general seats.
“If fifty seven tribals come together then who can touch us,” he told the gathering.
Reiterating that the party is ‘tribal centric’ but open to all communities, the veteran politician, who left the NCP to unsuccessfully contest the Presidential polls in July last, asserted that the decision to leave the NCP was a ‘tough but bold’ decision. “Once I was considered one of the most powerful men in Congress. Yet I quit that party not for any bigger post but for my principle,” Sangma said, adding, “I am joining NPP on my principles.”
Leader of the Opposition, Conrad K Sangma, said all 13 NCP legislators met Speaker Charles Pyngrope and formally handed over the letter of NCP’s merger with NPP.
Conrad exuded confidence that there was no cause of any legal hurdles since more than two-thirds of the NCP legislators had merged with NPP.
While pointing out the reason for NCP’s merger with NPP, Conrad said that after the resignation of Purno Sangma from the NCP, the party was like a ‘ship without a captain’.
“We are just taking out our old jerseys and wearing new ones,” he told the gathering.
He also made it clear that they did not have any difference with the NCP leadership.
Among those who attended the merger ceremony were NPP Manipur president V Hangkhanlian, NPP legislators, MDCs and party workers.
Later, while speaking to mediapersons Purno Sangma made it clear that the party would contest the elections in Meghalaya, Gujarat, Chhattisgarh, Uttarakhand and Rajasthan.
Reacting to a query on the future of the two NCP MPs Agatha Sangma and Thomas Sangma, Purno said, “I have advised them to continue with the NCP.”