SHILLONG, Aug 11: The Trinamool Congress (TMC) is yet to discuss media reports that its Mawsynram legislator, HM Shangpliang is planning to join the BJP.
The TMC leadership is waiting for the return of its state president Charles Pyngrope who is currently in the United States. Pyngrope is likely to return on August 16.
“We have not discussed this as yet as our state president is out of station,” TMC state vice president George B Lyngdoh said on Thursday.
Speculations are rife that Shangpliang is not happy with the TMC. But he has not said anything on record and this contributed to the suspense. Recently, BJP national executive member AL Hek had indicated Shangpliang is interested in joining the BJP.
Around 200 individuals from Mawsynram, mostly the supporters of Shangpliang, had joined the saffron party in Shillong in the presence of Hek and other senior leaders recently.
Shangpliang was the lone legislator from the Opposition who had attended a pre-Presidential election event for the BJP candidate and eventual winner Droupadi Murmu in Ri-Bhoi.
He had then said he did so as Murmu is a fellow tribal. He had initially wanted to join the United Democratic Party (UDP) but some UDP leaders stood opposed to his entry into the party as it already has a candidate in Ollansing Suin in the Mawsynram seat.
