The Congress Party is ready to welcome any prodigal sons who wish to return to the fold, leader of the opposition Dr Mukul Sangma said today.
The ex-Chief Minister was referring to reports that certain defectors are contemplating a switch back.
“We don’t put obstacles for anybody coming in,” Dr Sangma said, adding that the party will remain no matter who comes in or goes out. “For political parties which have their roots, leaders will come and go.”
Prior to the 2018 state elections, several Congressmen jumped ship, including Prestone Tynsong, who is Deputy Chief MInister. That election saw the Congress reduced to being the largest party in the Assembly but without enough friends to form a coalition government.
One Congress MLA, Martin Danggo, then took the risk of resigning his Ranikor seat to be able to join the ruling alliance but was then rejected by the voters, who picked Pius Marwein in the resulting by-election.
“You have seen how the aggressive poaching culminated in our colleague resigning and joining another political party. This is for everybody to see. After that did they stop? No. Did they continue? Yes,” Dr Sangma said.
Since then, however, the Congress has been able to protect its team effectively from further poaching, though Dr Sangma described this as the “toughest job”.
