The 12 MLAs who defected from the Congress to the Trinamool Congress will be at a serious disadvantage when they seek to be re-elected in 2023, one of the loyal Congress legislators, PT Sawkmie, has told Highland Post.
The rump Congress tried to get the 12, led by former Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma, disqualified but the petition was turned down by Assembly Speaker Metbah Lyngdoh.
Sawkmie, the Congress chief whip, said that the party respects Lyngdoh’s decision but that state party president Vincent Pala will decide on what to do if he “feels more needs to be done on this matter.”
No matter the situation, however, the Mawlai MLA feels that the 12 will struggle to get re-elected in the 2023 state elections.
“The 12 will have to start afresh and keep enlightening the public about the new party they have joined and keep justifying why they had left the Congress Party and this will put them in a very disadvantageous position,” he said.
When asked about his own loyalties, Sawkmie denied speculation that he will be joining the ruling National People’s Party or that he has been approached by any other political camp. However, he declined to pledge himself wholly to the Congress, saying that only time will tell where his path lies in future.
Sawkmie also admitted that people who expected the Congress to come back to power in 2023 are disheartened on seeing the state party’s present predicament.
