SHILLONG, Dec 17: The Opposition Trinamool Congress (TMC) has termed the ‘poaching’ of its MLA by the National People’s Party (NPP) a desperate attempt to get readymade leaders to retain power.
“NPP has poached one of our MLAs and declared he will be their official candidate, but we, as a party, are yet to discuss this and take into confidence and the views of the grassroots leaders of Tikrikilla,” said Opposition chief whip, George B Lyngdoh, on Saturday.
NPP national president and Chief Minister Conrad Sangma had on Friday announced the candidature of Jimmy D Sangma from Tikrikilla constituency on an NPP ticket. Jimmy, who represents the Tikrikilla seat, is a Trinamool Congress MLA.
Lyngdoh said, “We are yet to take a final call…there has been no official communication from his side. In fact if he wanted to switch, constitutionally he should have resigned as a member and showed his affiliation to the other political party but so far there has been no intimation”. Admitting that feelers were sent to the party, he, however, said the NPP, after having lost some of its MLAs, were quickly trying to get few into their group. “But then they are trying to get readymade leaders which shows their lack of confidence in their own party organisation and leadership,” Lyngdoh said.
“Nothing new for a political party that is desperately trying to hold back its mandate, power and the huge anti-incumbency that is seen across the state. Therefore, they are trying to quickly grab whatever comes their way by fair or unfair means, which we are seeing in the kind of approach the NPP is moving about the state,” he added.
Asked if the State TMC is disintegrating, he said, “Disintegration of a political party would be the erosion of the mass support amongst the people. Leaders may come and go but what is of significance is the presence of grassroots support across various constituencies”.
“What is amazing is that even in constituencies like Mawsynram and Mawphlang, there have been amazing garssroots support (for TMC) and people have flocked towards the party. It shows the confidence that they have not only on the party leadership but also the hope that change will come,” he said.
He further added, “All these misgovernance the people have understood is because of NPP-BJP coalition that has failed to address the aspirations and hope of the people. Leaders come and go but people have been rooted to this fact and understanding that they need a change”.
