Big blow to Congress in Meghalaya, former Chief Minister Mukul Sangma joins TMC Along with 11 other MLAs on 24 November. With this move, TMC became the major opposition party in the state assembly. Sangma has said that joining the Trinamool Congress led by Mamata Banerjee was his natural choice. He was on Friday named the leader of the Trinamool Congress Parliamentary Party in Meghalaya.
He said, “I have raised the Congress with bricks and stones in Meghalaya in difficult times. I don’t need to listen to people who sit in air-conditioned rooms.” In an interview to News18, Sangma said that the ‘chalta hai’ attitude is harming the grand old party. Excerpts from the interview:
Why did you leave the Grand Old Party?
Being in Congress for so long, this was not an overnight exercise. This was necessary for the larger interest of the people. We cannot underestimate our commitment towards the role of nation building and that is why we have taken this step. We built this party brick by brick; It was a difficult decision, but it was the need of the hour.
Why did you decide to join TMC?
Trinamool Congress was the natural choice. If you see from my point of view you will appreciate it. Our decision was based on the fact that the party is an alternative to that ideology. Look at TMC, by whom is this a party? Mamata Banerjee who was with the Congress. Why did he leave Congress? He had a purpose, a strong belief and commitment to serve the people of Bengal. She wanted her potential to be utilized properly.
Do you think TMC is the “real Congress”?
It will depend on how things unfold, based on whether the Congress sticks to its ‘chalta hai’ attitude and thinks it is doing everything right. My move should be a wake-up call to Congress. The course should be improved. This was asked of the party long back in 2018 when elections were held in five states. We were about to return to power in Meghalaya after getting so many seats in 2013. We lost for the first time in 2018. We needed to know why we lost, the course needed to be improved. If you forget, how will you learn? What if the same thing happens in 2023? We want to do real work, we want to work with TMC towards nation building.
What do you mean when you say Congress has a ‘chalta hai’ attitude? Do you think the Congress has lost its ground in the Northeast?
Of course, the Congress has neglected the Northeast. But this is the story of Congress in every state. Talk to the leaders of Jharkhand and Bihar, they will say the same thing. ‘Chalta Hai’ attitude cannot restore the glory of the grand old party. This is a complex issue which has become embedded in this party. The way things are handled is complicated. The people who handle troubleshooting for the party should know how to act. If you don’t know how to handle leaders, that’s a ‘chalta chalta hai’ attitude. If you don’t know what the disease is, how will you prescribe treatment?
What is the role of Prashant Kishor (I-PAC founder) in this move?
He (Prashant Kishor) thinks as we think. He realized that the grand old party could be revamped, but there had to be some desire. They shared the idea, they thought it wouldn’t work. In his absence, TMC became a natural choice and he told me that I should look for this platform. I realized that our leader (Mamata) is dedicated, committed and true to the fight. She was also in the same family (Congress). Joining TMC is like meeting siblings separated at birth, just like in a Hindi film.
Did you talk to Didi (Mamata Banerjee)?
I’ve talked to him. We have also sent a request to increase the strength of the party here under his guidance.
It is being said that Vincent Pala (Meghalaya Congress chief) is the reason behind your move to TMC.
They don’t know how we have formed the party. He is the recipient of what we have created. When PA Sangma left in the 1990s, all the MLAs of Garo Hills also left. I worked very hard at that time. He wanted to destroy the Congress. It was difficult to fight him, but I stayed and kept fighting. Sonia ji knows why I stopped. All the big leaders were thrown out. But I was there. They should know this and the leaders of Delhi should know this by sitting in their AC rooms. Many of my people were killed while building the Congress in Meghalaya.
Can we call this a Congress-free Northeast?
This is not my agenda, not my party. If Congress cannot read the writing on the wall, then it is their problem. Who am I to blame them?
What is the future of TMC in the Northeast?
TMC will be in Meghalaya for years and decades to come. We will come to Kolkata to thank Didi for giving us this opportunity. We will all work hard to strengthen the party.
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