Despite the long queue of politicians from Khasi Hills to join the NPP, a number of NPP legislators from Garo Hills are likely to leave the party and contest the 2023 Assembly elections from other parties.
Sources said that three NPP MLAs are in touch with All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) and BJP and the talks are still on.
The three are Raksamgre MLA Benedict Sangma, Selsella MLA Ferlin C. Sangma and Phulbari MLA S G Esmatur Mominin.
Benedict has already been denied the NPP ticket with Chief Minister Conrad Sangma recently announcing former Congress legislator Limison D. Sangma as the new candidate of NPP from Raksamgre for the 2023 polls.
Benedict, who is also a sitting MDC, has been at loggerheads with Conrad ever since he was ousted as Chief Executive Member of GHADC in January this year.
Conrad had earlier accused Benedict of trying to dislodge the MDA government with the help of AITC.
Sources also said that Ferlin C. Sangma is planning to leave the NPP as there were clear indications that she may lose the party ticket to contest from Selsella.
There were unconfirmed reports that Conrad may contest the 2023 elections from Selsella instead of South Tura.
Conrad had been an MLA of Selsella in 2008 before he shifted to South Tura in 2018.
S G Esmatur Mominin, the NPP MLA from Phulbari is also reportedly unhappy with his party. There were reports that he was in touch with both AITC and BJP.
A few days back, Mominin had denied ‘speculation’ that he could join the BJP.
Mominin said that he is still an NPP legislator but if denied a party ticket he would consult his workers and take a final decision.
Sources also said that there was a strong anti-incumbency mood against the ruling NPP in various constituencies of Garo Hills with the AITC and BJP making their presence felt in the region.
