SHILLONG, May 24: All India Trinamool Congress state chief, Charles Pyngrope on Tuesday expressed ignorance over reports that some MLAs of his party are trying to get close to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) before a possible switchover.
The AAP reportedly tried to reach out to some MLAs, including that of the Trinamool, keeping in mind next year’s Assembly elections. Pyngrope told reporters he has no information about it.
Some MLAs of other parties, expected to jump ship before the polls in 2023, admitted the AAP had approached them.
However, sources said, none of the MLAs has, so far, shown any interest in joining the party. But things might change ahead of the polls, they added. There is a perception that a section of those looking to enter state politics might join the party.
The sources also said some MLAs are not keen on joining the AAP as Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal ostensibly controls everything in the party, be it in Delhi or Punjab.
According to some political leaders, the Trinamool, which is perceived as a party from Bengal, is finding it tough to penetrate into Meghalaya. Party leaders disagreed.
The five suspended Congress MLAs of Meghalaya and 23 others had recently met for over four days in AAP-ruled Punjab, triggering speculations of a possible switchover.
Some MLAs exchanged views with their AAP counterparts, who encouraged them to help the Kejriwal-led party strike roots in Meghalaya.
Some of these MLAs stayed back in Punjab and met AAP’s national-level leaders. The party confirmed this but declined to share details.
The AAP has been trying to expand its base since the win in Punjab in order to get the status of a national party. Its leaders feel Meghalaya with a more literate voter base offers a good ground to it to flourish.
