MLAs keep people guessing on allegiance

SHILLONG: As political parties in the state claim that many sitting MLAs will join their fold, the true picture as to whether such a shift of allegiance will take place is still not clear.
Even before the beginning of this year, many political parties had claimed that sitting MLAs would join their fold, but till now, nothing has happened even as speculations are rife that at least two to three sitting MLAs will shift to the other camp.
When a question was posed to a sitting MLA during an informal interaction whether he would shift to another party, and most probably to the BJP, the legislator said he was yet to take a call on the matter as of now and that his decision would depend on the scenario. “If other MLAs join the BJP, then I too would join the party and if others don’t join, I myself will not join,” the legislator said.
The MLA said he would have to go with the flow as he could do nothing alone in the Congress if the others leave the party to join another.
While it is not known who will be deserting Congress, there have been speculations that former Cabinet Ministers- Prestone Tynsong and Sniawbhalang Dhar- would join the NPP though both the leaders have categorically denied the guesswork. The alleged anti-party activities of the two legislators probably led them to being dropped from the cabinet.
However, everyone including chief minister Mukul Sangma, has denied such speculation saying that reshuffle was a normal exercise.