TMC merger talk unofficial: BJP

SHILLONG, April 27: Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Mukul M. Sangma has not approached the BJP officially for a merger, sources in the saffron party have confirmed.
The sources said that the possibility of a TMC-BJP merger may have been discussed at the personal level of some party leaders but no one from the TMC has made any proposal to the BJP.
BJP insiders said that the party follows a system and the central leadership takes charge if a leader of the stature of Sangma is keen on joining.
“So far, we have not had any official communication,” a BJP leader said, adding that a discussion on the merger between some BJP and TMC legislators over a cup of tea means nothing until the party takes a decision.
He said Alexander L. Hek, who met some TMC legislators over tea, has not brought the matter to the party. Hek had told reporters about an unofficial discussion on the merger.
The leader did not rule out the possibility of Sangma testing the waters through speculations before making any attempt to join the BJP.
He denied reports about Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma scuttling Mukul Sangma’s merger bid.
BJP sources said the party would be strengthened if Mukul Sangma joins and acquaints himself with the style of functioning of the party.
Apart from the TMC-BJP merger, another speculative report doing the rounds is that the two MLAs of the People’s Democratic Front (PDF) are set to join the ruling National People’s Party.
What sets this apart from the TMC-BJP merger theory is that the PDF leaders have admitted to discussing the merger officially with the Conrad Sangma-led party.
PDF working president, Banteidor Lyngdoh confirmed the merger-related discussions on Thursday.
Lyngdoh and party colleague Gavin Miguel Mylliem, accompanied by PDF general secretary Auspicious L. Mawphlang held a nearly two-hour-long meeting with Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong on Thursday.
“Discussions are going on but we have not decided anything yet,” Lyngdoh said after the meeting, refusing to outline the reasons for the merger move.
Tynsong had earlier hinted at major changes in the political scenario of the state between May 6 and 8. He is believed to have referred to the likelihood of a PDF-NPP merger.