Ex-Cong MLA joins BJP
Former Congress MLA Bluebell R. Sangma today joined the BJP.
The former legislator from Chokpot was welcomed into the saffron party by State BJP president Ernest Mawrie at the party office in Tura.
She is likely to contest the 2023 Assembly elections from Chokpot constituency against Lazarus M. Sangma of Trinamool Congress.
Sangma won the Chokpot seat in the 2015 Assembly by-election defeating her nearest rival Philipole Marak of NPP by a margin of 2,550 votes.
The by-poll was held following the death of Garo National Council (GNC) legislator, Clifford R Marak.
Rafius Sangma of Rongjeng, Joyson Marak, Rimjeng Marak who are all Congress workers, also joined the saffron party.
Welcoming them, Mawrie said their presence will boost the party which “has now become a choice for many like-minded people who wants to bring a change to Garo Hills.”
He even expressed confidence to win many seats in Garo Hills in the upcoming 2023 Assembly polls.
BJP MDC from Tura Bernard N Marak said the corruption by its alliance partners and anomalies faced in GHADC has sailed the minds of the leaders in Congress and other parties towards BJP.
“The March to end corruption and to bring about good governance and to take steps for mass development and employment will be the ultimate goal of BJP and its karyakartas. More will be joining BJP in coming months,” he added.
Ex-NPP candidate joins Congress
Turning the tide just a little, a former National People’s Party (NPP) candidate in the 2018 state elections, Erwin K Sutnga, joined the Congress Party today.
Of late it has been one way traffic, with Congress members leaving for the NPP and other parties, which make Sutnga’s move a stand-out.
The lawyer had run on an NPP ticket in the 2018 election for the North Shillong seat but garnered just 441 votes despite vigorous campaigning. Many years before, he had been with the Khun Hynñiewtrep National Awakening Movement (KHNAM).
It seemed as though Sutnga had fallen out with the party in late 2020 when he, as leader of the Meghalaya People’s Labour Union, called for action against “blatant and rampant” illegal coal mining in East Jaiñtia Hills.
Joining the Congress, he was welcomed to the party by state working president Pynshngain Syiem and Charles Marngar, both MDCs.
Syiem said that it was a privilege to have Sutnga in the Congress fold. “With Erwin joining the party, it will help the party very much in the party organisation and in raising pertinent issues,” he said.
Lauding the Congress, Sutnga said that it is a party that is not biased and has always been sincere in bringing development.
“The state has reached a crossroads in its history where the direction it is heading towards is very dangerous. I have given a lot of thought about joining Congress, visited areas in the state and witnessed that there is a deep sense of frustration among the common man … The rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer,” Sutnga said, adding that his faith in the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance government is exhausted especially after seeing ordinary folk suffering during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Turning to the issue of coal, he lashed out at the government for saying that it will take action against illegal mining if it is shown evidence.
“How much evidence does a government need when, recently, one Nokma filed an FIR and also submitted evidence (of illegal mining)?” Sutnga asked. “I challenge the MDA government to initiate a CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation) inquiry if all these allegations made on coal mining activities are not true.”
Umsning MDC to join NPP today
Umsning MDC Macdalyne S. Mawlong will join the NPP tomorrow.
Mawlong, the lone lady MDC in Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC), belonged to the PDF.
She will be welcomed into the NPP by Chief Minister Sangma, Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong and NPP State president Dr. Wanwei Roy Kharlukhi at the party office here at 11:30 am.
It may be mentioned that Mawlong has decided to contest the 2023 Assembly elections from Nongpoh constituency.
Her brother Jason S. Mawlong is the current MLA of Umsning. He won the seat on a PDF ticket.
