The Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) government members turned up in force to welcome Draupadi Murmu, the candidate put forward by the Bharatiya Janata Party and National Democratic Alliance for the upcoming presidential election.
Murmu arrived in Meghalaya at the Orchid Lake Resort in Umiam, Ri-Bhoi, where she met the Chief Minister, Speaker of the Assembly, Rajya Sabha MP and other MLAs.
Murmu has been touring several states to muster support for the July 18 poll.
Present on the occasion was CM Conrad K Sangma, MP Wanweiroy Kharlukhi (both of the National People’s Party), Speaker Metbah Lyngdoh (of the United Democratic Party), cabinet minister Dasakhiatbha Lamare (NPP), Renikton Lyngdoh Tongkhar (Hill State People’s Democratic Party), Kyrmen Shylla (UDP) and the two BJP MLAs – AL Hek and Sanbor Shullai.
Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, Union Minister of State Pratima Bhoumik and BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra also accompanied Murmu to Umiam.
There was a surprise of sorts with the presence of Himalaya Shangpliang, a Trinamool Congress legislator. Suspicion has been rife that Shangpliang will quit the TMC in favour of another party ahead of the 2023 election and his presence at the event only strengthened such speculation.
BJP state president Ernest Mawrie expressed pride that Murmu would be the first tribal to hold the highest constitutional post in the country. “She briefed us and she has spoken about the welfare of women in the state. She is a tribal from Odisha and we are happy to welcome her in our state,” Mawrie said.
Shullai also expressed happiness and felt that the people in the state and all tribal people of India should be happy with Murmu’s candidature. “We have urged all party leaders in the state, irrespective of party affiliation, to support the tribal candidate,” Shullai said.
The TMC is backing Murmu’s rival for the post, Yashwant Sinha. Last week, TMC general secretary Abhishek Banerjee dismissed Murmu’s candidature as tokenism on the part of the BJP. He said that, though the incumbent President, Ram Nath Kovind, is a member of a Scheduled Caste, SCs have suffered under the rule of the BJP since it came to power in the Centre in 2014.
Despite this, Shangpliang turned up for the event to show support for Murmu.
However, the first-time Mawsynram legislator attempted to suggest that he was present after receiving an invitation across party lines and that he was only there to show support for a fellow tribal.
“I have not come on behalf of the TMC, I have come as an individual and because I respect the sentiments of a fellow tribal who has been nominated to the highest post in the country,” he said while declining to comment on speculation of his jumping the TMC ship.
“It’s up to you how you interpret how I will vote (on July 18) but I have definitely come to pay my respects to the designated president and it was an honour meeting her,” Shangpliang added.
