Shillong, Oct 8: Meghalaya’s Leader of the Opposition, Dr Mukul Sangma, today said that Trinamool Congress (TMC) MPs who left the party are “victims of poaching”.
The TMC Meghalaya leader said that the situation is an abnormal political scenario that is being seen throughout the country.
“Why are they victims of poaching, let me be blunt – integrity in public life is the strongest weapon,” he said. Dr Sangma left the Congress Party for the TMC in 2021. Even now there is periodic speculation whether the former Chief Minister will leave the TMC for another party but so far he has remained loyal even as the party’s fortunes have floundered.
Dr Sangma said that anybody who compromises in their integrity while in public life will always be a victim of poaching by people who are in power.
The leader of Opposition also claimed that many more, even in Meghalaya, will become victims of poaching since they are “vulnerable” since they do not have the shield of integrity.
On the fate of the regional parties of Meghalaya like the United Democratic Party (UDP), which recently became a victim of poaching by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Dr Sangma said that the development was no element of surprise, adding that it was going to happen anyways.
He said that this whole development is proof beyond reasonable doubt of the failure of the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) government led by the National People’s Party (NPP).
He said that the people in the government failed to create that cohesiveness to have that environment of inclusivity.
“Many of the MLAs were so frustrated … and this (defection of eight UDP MLAs) is the result,” Dr Sangma said.
