SHILLONG, Jan 23: Congress in Garo Hills got a shot in the arm on Monday, after the lone NCP MLA, Saleng Sangma joined the grand old party.
The move virtually ends the NCP presence in Meghalaya just weeks ahead of the February 27 elections.
Saleng joined the Congress at the party headquarters in Shillong where he was welcomed by MPCC president Vincent H Pala and other party leaders.
While talking to reporters Saleng slammed the MDA Government over the border dispute with Assam questioning when Khanapara was not even a disputed area, why the area was given away to Assam.
Defending his association with the MDA coalition, he conceded that he could not walk out of the MDA Government as it would have been very difficult for a lone MLA to be in the opposition for five years.
Taking a swipe at Mukul Sangma, he labelled the latter as a “coward” for ditching the grand old party.
Saleng recalled that he was earlier in the Congress but was unceremoniously eased out. “The person who kicked me out is no longer there in the Congress. Hence, I am back,” he said.
Asked why he joined the Congress and not any other party, he admitted that he had explored the possibility of joining BJP but he did not want to hurt the sentiments of the people of the state and hence he refrained from doing so.
Apart from Saleng, sitting JHADC member from Sutnga-Nongkhlieh, Richard Sing Lyngdoh also joined the party with his supporters.
