Shillong, Dec 7: Meghalaya Congress Party secretary Manuel Badwar has taken a dim view of Dr Mukul Sangma’s comments on the party as well as his brother – Zenith Sangma – rejoining the Congress.
Speaking to reporters in the past week, Mukul said his brother had made the wrong decision in heading back to the Congress and he also criticised his old party for what he said was too much power being concentrated in the New Delhi headquarters rather than in the state units.
Today Badwar, who was at the October function when Zenith was welcomed back, said that his return was the right move.
Zenith and several other MLAs followed Mukul out of the Congress and into the Trinamool Congress. However, Zenith lost his seat at the 2023 election.
When asked, Badwar also emphasised that a balance of power and leadership changes are essential in any party. “You might be a CM (Chief Ministerial) candidate, but you don’t necessarily have to be party president – there has to be balance. Dr Mukul’s late, loose statement doesn’t reflect well on him,” Badwar said.
Mukul is thought to have felt sidelined after Vincent Pala was made state Congress president, which is what led him to leave for the TMC.
Badwar added that Congress would welcome Mukul’s return but it must align with the party’s principles, dismissing claims of All India Congress Committee (AICC) interference.
