Speculation grows over former CM’s next political move
By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Nov 30: Meghalaya’s political circles are abuzz as Leader of the Opposition Mukul M. Sangma contemplates his next party affiliation.
The former Chief Minister and seven-time MLA from Songsak has reportedly opened channels with multiple parties while communication with TMC’s central leadership in Kolkata has “largely ceased.”
Political sources said Mukul has been in communication with “multiple political parties in the state”, although the names of these parties remain unconfirmed.
Insiders say the disconnect deepened after TMC’s poor performance in the 2023 Assembly polls, bagging only five seats, and the national leadership’s growing disengagement from the Northeast unit.
A major trigger appears to be personal: Mukul’s younger brother, Zenith M. Sangma, recently defected from TMC back to Congress, a move said to have left the former CM deeply unhappy. Family dynamics have always influenced the Garo Hills politics, where the Sangma clan remains a dominant force.
Mukul’s Congress chapter ended on an acrimonious note in November 2021, but its roots trace back to 2019, when the party’s high command sidelined him and appointed Vincent H. Pala as MPCC president.
With Congress eyeing a revival ahead of the 2028 polls, whispers of reconciliation have grown, although many state leaders remain wary of Mukul’s “bitter rivalry” with Tura MP Saleng A. Sangma.
TMC sources confirm the central leadership has distanced itself from Meghalaya, leaving the state unit in limbo. Mukul himself hinted at disillusionment earlier this year, stating that national party tags often weaken regional leaders in small states.
Although any formal announcement is a long way off, political corridors are rife with speculations, considering the options the former Chief Minister has — a return to the Congress, floating a new regional outfit or even accepting a parliamentary position from the ruling National People’s Party.
For now, Mukul is keeping his options open and his decision close to his chest.
