SHILLONG, May 11: All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) state president, Charles Pyngrope on Wednesday remained evasive on reports that five party MLAs may join the United Democratic Party ahead of the 2023 Assembly polls.
An alert sounded by the Indian Political Action Committee (I-PAC) on the possible defection by the five MLAs has set the alarm bells ringing in the AITC camp forcing the party leadership to summon Pyngrope and parliamentary party leader, Mukul Sangma to Kolkata for urgent deliberations.
As per reports, five AITC MLAs — George B Lyngdoh, Himalaya Shangpliang, Shitlang Pale, Marthon Sangma and Jimmy D Sangma — were planning to join the UDP.
UDP general secretary, Jemino Mawthoh, had recently claimed that talks with seven sitting MLAs were at an advanced stage. He had refused to divulge the names.
Reacting to the report, Pyngrope said that as the party president in Meghalaya, it will be his duty and responsibility to ensure that he works to the best of his ability to build the party in the state.
“It will also be my endeavour to ensure that the party contests the elections in 2023 in all the 60 constituencies and I will fulfill my responsibilities to the best of my ability,” the AITC state chief said.
Party to go ‘all out’ to win in 2023
In another development, the AITC on Wednesday asserted that the party will put its “entire might and weight” to win the Assembly elections in Meghalaya next year.
Addressing media persons in Guwahati, AITC national general secretary, Abhishek Banerjee said, “Trinamool Congress has now emerged as the principal Opposition party in the state of Meghalaya. The party will put its entire might and weight behind the local party candidates to make sure that they are able to defeat the NPP which is the party leading the alliance in Meghalaya,” he said.
