Another Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader who contested the 2023 Meghalaya Assembly elections quit the party to join the United Democratic Party (UDP).
Gilbert Laloo, who contested the Assembly polls from Mylliem constituency said, “We tried to expand the party (TMC) throughout the state. But we have seen that the people are not yet ready to accept the party.”
He stated that he joined the UDP to strengthen the regional parties and expects it to rule the state and also in the autonomous district councils one day.
When asked whether it is practical to change parties at every given chance, Laloo stated that if those who have established themselves can do so, why not a person like him who is finding his way through in politics.
“I have been working and serving the people in Mylliem constituency even when I was not politically inclined,” he added.
Laloo also said that he is interested in contesting the upcoming KHADC polls from the UDP from Mylliem constituency.
Laloo was inducted into the UDP at the party’s office in the presence of East Khasi Hills district president Titosstarwell Chyne, Shella MLA Balajied Kupar Synrem and his supporters.
It may be mentioned that last month, the entire Nongthymmai block, which is represented by state president of the TMC Charles Pyngrope, quit and joined the Congress.
There were rumours that Pyngrope at some point in the future is likely to quit the TMC.
Another TMC leader and former legislator from Umroi, George Lyngdoh, resigned and formed the Umroi Constituency Progressive Forum (UCPF).
Lyngdoh was defeated in the 2023 assembly elections from the TMC after quitting the Congress.
There are also reports that the TMC is unlikely to contest the upcoming KHADC and JHADC polls on February 21.
The decision has been fuelled by two specific reasons – the party’s lack of vote share in the tribal belts of Khasi-Jaintia Hills and the lack of communication from the party’s high command.
Even the state president of the TMC admitted that in the Khasi and Jaintia Hills the TMC does not have any hold with limited vote share.
