SHILLONG/RESUBELPARA, Jan 11: Defections are becoming the order of the day in the run-up to upcoming Meghalaya polls with political parties gearing up for the game of throne.
On Wednesday, the BJP scored over the ruling NPP when party leader and former state minister, Frankenstein W Momin resigned from the party along with his son-in-law, Sengnab Ch Momin. They are likely to join the saffron party.
The NPP, however, gained from another defection of the day, when two sitting MLAs of the Trinamool Congress, Marthon Sangma of Mendipathar and Jimmy D Sangma of Tikrikilla ditched the Bengal-based party, fueling speculation to join its ranks.
They submitted their resignations to Assembly Speaker Metbah Lyngdoh on the day.
In both cases, the saffron party became the sole gainer.
Soon after his resignation, the Mendipathar MLA cited unhappiness as the cause of his decision.
He also revealed that his supporters want to join the NPP.
Meanwhile, Tikrikilla MLA had refused to comment when asked about his decision to resign.
Several sitting MLAs from Garo Hills had resigned and deserted their party ahead of the elections which is a common trend in Meghalaya.
Earlier, former sitting NPP MLAs — Ferlin CA Sangma of Selsella and Benedic R Marak of Raksamgre — had resigned as MLAs to join the BJP.
Both former NPP MLAs said they were sidelined in their own party.
Recently, another sitting NPP legislator from Phulbari, SG Estamur Mominin had resigned as an MLA after he was denied the party ticket.
Mominin is contesting the upcoming Assembly polls on TMC ticket.
Meanwhile, Sengnab also resigned from the post of the North Garo Hills district general secretary of the NPP. If given a ticket, he is likely to contest against current MLA, Marthon J Sangma.
Marthon incidentally has switched allegiance to the NPP after his switchover from the Congress along with Mukul Sangma to join the TMC.
Interestingly, Sengnab will be the fourth ticket aspirant for the Mendipathar seat.
“We are unhappy with the NPP leadership as they have not consulted us on important decisions in the recent past. Despite serving the party in my capacity for a long time, I feel disillusioned by the works of the party at the ground level,” said Sengnab on his resignation from the NPP.
He added that the decision to desert the party was a tough and most challenging one for him. Sengnab, however, said he is ready to move on.
Former minister, FW Momin cited old-age as the reason of his resignation.
“Time and age are not on my side and I want to disassociate myself from active politics. However, I disagree with the NPP high command on many accounts. Party top leaders don’t consult grassroots level party workers. This should not happen in any mature party,” said Momin.
The former MLA also resigned from his position as the senior vice president of the party.
The two leaders along with many of the seniors from the NPP in Mendipathar, a few Congress leaders as well as UDP members joined the BJP in the presence of Assam BJP spokesperson, Akshay Rajkhowa.
“We are extremely happy to have them in our party and we are sure about a positive outcome in the polls. BJP wants development and we are going to form the next government in the state. The calculations can come later,” said Rajkhowa.
Momin’s switchover came after a continuous persuasion by BJP leaders, who made at least four visits to his house in recent times.
“I have been a long time worker for the NPP but when they decided to award the party ticket to Marthon Sangma, we felt neglected. The BJP is the only party that wants to develop our constituency and the state. Only the saffron party can ensure an all-round development in Meghalaya just like the party-led governments do in other states,” Sengnab said.
The saffron party, however, may face problem of plenty in Mendipathar, where it has five ticket aspirants.
Chireng Peter R Marak, brother-in-law of Tura MP, Agatha Sangma, became another addition to the list of resignations from the NPP on Wednesday.
Marak, who has joined the Congress, was welcomed by MPCC working president Deborah Marak and veteran leader Wansuk Syiem.
Congress is contemplating to field him from Kharkutta constituency.
On his entry into the Congress, Marak said there is a huge gap between people and the government, and he intends to bridge that gap.
