TURA, Nov 17: The All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) which fancies itself of snatching power at the hustings in the state, has tried to allay fear of West Bengal domination in Meghalaya, while projecting Mukul Sangma as the party’s chief ministerial face.
After inaugurating the party office in Tura on Thursday night, TMC general secretary and the party’s second-in-command, Abhishek Banerjee said, “People think that if the TMC comes to power here, Meghalaya will be dominated by West Bengal. I assure you it is not the case. I promise you that Meghalaya will be dominated by Meghalaya.”
Terming the ruling MDA as “Meghalaya Disaster Alliance”, Banerjee said when the government was formed in 2018, people had high hopes that development will take place. “However there has only been disappointment. This proxy government (the MDA) has been nothing but Meghalaya Disaster Alliance. If you want change that you wish for, all of you need to come forward and work to bring that change,” he urged.
He added, with a hint of assertion, that the TMC will not budge an inch in its fight against the autocratic forces that want to rule from Guwahati and Delhi.
“Like the sun rises from the east, this time India’s future will start from this very soil. I invite everyone to join us, the students, youth, people across all walks of life to come together and ensure that this corrupt, narcissistic MDA government is uprooted in the next 3 months and a progressive group of people (TMC) take over the reign to ensure overall development of the state,” he stated.
Making it crystal clear that the TMC was the only party taking on the BJP, Banerjee said, “There is a speculation that many TMC leaders have jumped ship but if you check it’s the other way round with BJP legislators jumping onboard the TMC ship.”
He cited the case of Goa where the Congress claimed that they had the ability to take on the BJP but was decimated. “We can’t allow the same to happen here. What we have said is that every vote to the Congress is a vote to the BJP. You need to vote for the two flowers (TMC symbol) to defeat these forces. We are ready to put in our blood and sweat behind you. It is a fight between Meghalaya and Delhi. It’s a fight between those who want to belittle Meghalaya while sitting in their ivory towers in Delhi. It’s a fight of your self esteem and self respect,” the TMC leader said.
Referring to Mukul, he said, “The son of the soil will be the chief minister and he will not bow down to Delhi if he comes to power.”
Talking about the defiance shown by TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee, he said that the entire paraphernalia of the BJP government was always at her because she refused to cow down.
“She has set an example for the rest of the country. Every agency is after her starting from the Election Commission. They tried every way to ensure she was stopped. They tried violence even in the constituency she was contesting from. I am sure that if Bengal can, Meghalaya too can and so can others in the country. We have to be the example.”
Pointing to the abject apathy from the Centre, Banerjee questioned why Meghalaya was being treated like a small district. “I mean a district consciously? They don’t see Meghalaya as a state. They think Meghalaya is a district of two parliamentary seats. It has to be seen as a full-fledged state for the people to get their due. It is a state that is full of resources and bio diversity. The name itself is a testimony to what it is and this needs to be maintained,” the TMC leader said.
Banerjee, who is on his maiden two-day visit to the western part of the state, was welcomed at the Guwahati Airport by TMC legislator George B Lyngdoh and Assam TMC president Ripun Bora.
After his arrival in Tura, he inaugurated the party’s office in the Te’teng Aja locality.
Banerjee was accompanied by TMC Meghalaya in-charge Manas Ranjan Bhunia, state president Charles Pyngrope, opposition leader and now CM candidate Mukul Sangma and Umroi legislator George Lyngdoh.
Speaking to small group of party workers after the inauguration, Banerjee said, “This is something that I will cherish for the rest of my life. Thank you very much for the warm welcome and for the chance of being here today. The TMC is here to be with all of you and we are a party that is of the people, for the people and by the people.”
