Former Salmanpara legislator Winnerson D Sangma and a close aide of Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Dr Mukul Sangma today joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Winnerson was a two-time MLA, having won from Salmanpara on a Congress Party ticket in 2013 and 2018. He defected with 11 other legislators in November 2021 to the TMC and then lost the 2023 Assembly election to the National People’s Party (NPP).
He was welcomed to the BJP by state unit president Rikman Momin, legislators AL Hek and Sanbor Shullai, senior spokesperson Mariahom Kharkrang and a host of party leaders and workers.
Speaking after joining, he said that the saffron party’s platform is strong and, in order to strengthen the BJP in Meghalaya, he decided to join.
Asked why he left the TMC, Winnerson said that he was thankful to its leaders, especially Mamata Banerjee, Abhishek Banerjee and Dr Sangma.
“I decided to leave the party but I will not be leaving Dr Mukul Sangma and others. They have been very kind to me and accommodated me at various levels. I am grateful to them but, as of today, in the prevailing political environment in the state, I find that the BJP is growing and people have started to accept it,” he said.
He predicted that many more individuals will join the BJP in the next few days. He also said that the acceptance of the BJP in Garo Hills is growing under the leadership of Rikman.
When asked if Dr Sangma will join the party, he said that that will be his old ally’s decision. Although much has been made of the supposed hostility in the NPP to the idea of Dr Sangma joining the BJP, an NPP ally, saffron leaders said today that they will give the former Chief Minister a warm welcome if he did make the switch.
“Dr Mukul is a seasoned politician. Here in the party office we will give him a red carpet welcome,” Shullai said.
Hek said that Winnerson’s joining is a clear indication that the BJP will win the two Lok Sabha seats at the upcoming general election.
The state cabinet minister also said that, in the coming days, not only former legislators but also sitting MLAs will join the BJP.
