In a major move for the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) a huge number of workers of the Indian National Congress (INC) resigned en masse before joining the party in a ceremony held today at the New Tura playground.
Those that joined the TMC today comprised most of the members of the Meghalaya Pradesh Youth Congress (MPYC) with the TMC claiming at 90 per cent of the former members merging with the TMC.
Those that joined the TMC today included youth leaders like Rupa Marak, Rupert Sangma, Adamkid Sangma, Saljagringgrang Marak as well as former MPYC president, Richard Marak.
The move comes even as most major players of the state Congress have quit and joined the now largest opposition group in the state, TMC.
Originally the newly inducted members of the TMC had planned a show of strength by taking out a car and bike rally through the town. However, given the traffic situation in the town of Tura, they decided against the move.
“There was happiness within the ranks of the youth after the former CM, Mukul Sangma showed the intent of the party to blood them in the MDC elections. However after the new president, Vincent Pala came, he pushed to bring back the old bandwagon. This has not been appreciated by the members. The youth are the future and,” said former WGH MPYC president, Rupa Marak.
“The former Youth Congress members are resigning from the MPYC and the primary membership of the IYC and we are merging with the AITC. We are optimistic as more than 90 per cent of the youths have joined us and hope to bring a new dawn in Meghalaya,” said former MPYC president, Richard Marak.
Richard said that they moved to TMC to follow their leader, Mukul Sangma in the understanding that the former CM would carry along everyone with him.
“The current dispensation in the Centre and the state has done nothing for the people and only promoted crony capitalism. Only a few people are benefitting. The BJP are making laws to suppress the poor and underprivileged and this has to be fought against,” he added.
On the NPP, Richard said that the NPP has been mismanaging the state, especially the pandemic situation.
“More could have been done to help the poor during the pandemic through the Disaster Management Act, 2005. There are so many cases of corruption that have come through and the people know and will support us in the future,” felt Richard.
Reacting to a question of the TMC and its prospects, most of which is being played down by other parties, Rupa felt the situation was different from when PA Sangma brought the party to Garo Hills.
PA Sangma had fought the presidential election on a TMC ticket.
“In the case of late PA Sangma, the situation was vastly different. When he joined the TMC then, he joined it alone. On the other hand, Mukul Sangma has joined with 12 MLAs and has the support from all parts of the state, Garo, Khasi and Jaiñtia Hills. We will definitely do better,” said Rupa.
For now the TMC felt the biggest challenge would be to set up grass root channels of the party in all parts of the state.
“People have responded positively to our coming onboard the TMC and we will work on ensuring this helps win us the mandate in the coming MLA elections in 2023,” felt Rupa.
