Shillong, Sep 24: Tura MP Saleng Sangma of the Congress Party has questioned the decision of eight United Democratic Party (UDP) MLAs to join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), saying the move raises questions about their trust in the Meghalaya government and the reasons behind the switch.
Reacting to the switch, which formally took place yesterday, Sangma said it was surprising to see elected UDP legislators leave their regional party and join the BJP, whose ideology is significantly different from that of the UDP.
“Why are they so desperate to join the BJP? You can’t just make it out,” Sangma said.
Both the UDP and BJP are members of the ruling Meghalaya Democratic Alliance government, which is led by the National People’s Party. It appeared odd to Sangma that the MLAs would leave one member of the governing coalition for another. The rebel legislators have claimed that they have done so because the BJP, which holds power at the Centre, has promised to move on issues dear to Meghalaya – inclusion of Khasi and Garo languages in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution, amendment to the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Act (MRSSA) to check influx, easing of coal mining rules and relocation of the Harijan Colony from Them Ïew Mawlong.
Sangma said that the Chief Minister has already taken up these issues with the central government
“If these things were already taken up by the Chief Minister of Meghalaya regarding the ILP, regarding the FCRA, regarding all the other demands that they have placed, why is the trust bond not there with them?” he asked.
The Congress MP described the development as “shocking”, particularly because the MLAs were elected on UDP tickets.
“People trusted them because they were the regional party and people voted for the regional party,” he said, questioning whether switching parties amounted to disregarding the mandate given by voters.
Asked whether the MLAs could have reached an understanding with their constituents before making the switch, Sangma said it was too early to determine how voters would respond.
On the possible reasons behind the move, Sangma said there could be several factors, including personal or political considerations. “Maybe they might have some personal agenda, personal issues. Maybe they were, I don’t know, I won’t say greedy, but maybe power hungry,” he said.
Sangma also suggested that differences over the sharing of power within the government could have played a role, saying the MLAs may have believed they could get greater political influence after joining the BJP.
However, he said the eventual impact of the move would depend on how people respond to it.
“It’s the people only. Whatever the MLA does, whatever the government does, it’s the people who have chosen them,” he said, adding that it was not possible to precisely predict how voters would view the development ahead of the 2028 Assembly elections.
On the BJP’s expansion plans in Meghalaya, Sangma said its future prospects would ultimately depend on the people and he could not predict because he is neither “a prophet, nor a fortune teller”.
