SHILLONG: Saleng Sangma, who is an associate member of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), has indicated that former Home Minister RG Lyngdoh would join the party soon.
Speaking on the sidelines of the inauguration of the party central office on Wednesday, the MLA from Gambegre in West Garo Hills said the veteran leader would advise the party on strategies for the election campaign.
“The central office of the party was scheduled to be inaugurated by Lyngdoh but the plan was cancelled since he left for Nagaland,” he added.
However, shortly after Sangma’s announcement, Lyngdoh, who is also former vice chancellor of Martin Luther Christian University, denied joining NCP.
He, however, said he had been advising the party to unite with like-minded entities for a pre-poll alliance to give viable option to people.
“I advised this since people here don’t have viable options and they should get good options,” he added.
He also said there are other ways of serving people than joining politics.
Earlier, Sangma claimed that many sitting and former MLAs and MDCs would shortly join the party.
“We want to bring about change in 2018,” he told reporters and added that the party is even open to the idea of contesting all the 60 seats if they get capable leaders.
Stating that they would never play second fiddle to the Congress, Sangma also ruled out pre-poll alliance with any political party saying it would go it alone in the elections.
According to Sangma, the Congress is out of league this time. He blamed the state government for lack of infrastructure in the newly created districts.