Shillong, Oct 29: The return of former MLA Zenith M Sangma to the Congress Party has been warmly welcomed by Tura MP Saleng A Sangma, though the latter does not seem too keen on Zenith’s older brother – former Chief Minister, sitting MLA and Leader of the Opposition Dr Mukul Sangma.
Zenith’s formal return from the Trinamool Congress (TMC) is a shot in the arm for the Congress, which has suffered a string of high-profile defections over the years that have decimated its political strength.
Zenith’s return raises questions about the rest of his political family. His wife Sadhiarani Sangma is the MDC for Dengnakpara, while Mukul and Mukul’s daughter Miani D Shira are MLAs. Mukul’s wife Dikkanchi D Shira was a former legislator. Both Dikkanchi and Zenith lost their seats in the 2023 state election while contesting on TMC tickets.
There is no love lost between Saleng and Mukul.
When the latter led the defection of a dozen MLAs to the TMC in 2021, that opened up the way for Saleng to rejoin the Congress from the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). In January 2023 Saleng said that it was Mukul who had “kicked” him out of the Congress years before. He then labelled Mukul a “coward” for leaving the Congress in favour of the TMC.
Today, in a spirited response to Zenith’s homecoming, Saleng described the former minister’s rejoining as that of a “prodigal son returning home,” adding that his decision reflects realisation and redemption.
“The prodigal son has returned but not the father. Zenith has realised that’s why he has come back and redeemed himself. When the Congress family has accepted him back, why shouldn’t we be happy and accept him too? He is a good man and wants to do good for the people. That’s why the party has welcomed him,” Saleng said.
Expressing happiness over Zenith’s return, the Tura MP said the move would “not only boost the party but also the community and society” while giving renewed confidence to the people of Meghalaya.
When asked whether Zenith’s return would help the Congress grow, Saleng exuded optimism, recalling the party’s long-standing roots in the state.
Responding to queries if he would be agreeable to Mukul’s return, the MP recalled that Zenith’s brother had once declared that he would “never” rejoin Congress. “I don’t want to speak on his behalf but, if I recall, he had bluntly said that,” Saleng said.
