SHILLONG: Former Meghalaya Chief Minister and All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) leader Dr. Mukul Sangma has firmly ruled out joining the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) or any other national political party, dismissing ongoing political defections and poaching in the state as corrupt, unethical, and unconstitutional.
Despite recent political realignments, Dr. Sangma maintained that the grassroots base and the voters of Meghalaya remain intact.
He expressed full confidence that the TMC cannot be broken and stated that the electorate will ultimately decide the state’s political outcome.
Speaking on current political developments, the former Chief Minister addressed the justifications frequently offered by politicians switching sides, drawing parallels to past high-profile resignations such as that of Martin M. Danggo.
He asserted that such explanations are merely convenient excuses designed to rationalize opportunistic behavior.
Dr. Sangma also raised strong objections to the amendments proposed for the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Act (MRSSA).
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He pointed out that the original legislation was crafted after extensive deliberations with civil society organizations to tackle illegal immigration and uncontrolled influx within the state legislature’s jurisdiction.
Tampering with the law by introducing clauses that exceed state jurisdiction, he argued, forces the legislation to be referred to the Ministry of Home Affairs in New Delhi, effectively stalling its implementation.
He termed the amendment exercise an eyewash orchestrated by the government to render the MRSSA unenforceable.
Turning his focus to the ruling coalition, Dr. Sangma heavily criticized the BJP and its allies for failing to deliver on their 2018 electoral pledge to resume coal mining within six months.
He accused the BJP of weaponizing its central power to entice and poach legislators through inducements, describing the practice of offering political favors in exchange for party switches as a corrupt quid pro quo.
He emphasized that central funds and resource allocations are constitutional entitlements of the state rather than political favors, calling on citizens and political leaders alike to reject coercive politics.
Addressing allegations surrounding administrative irregularities, Dr. Sangma highlighted arbitrary transfers of police officers and Superintendent of Police postings linked to coal transportation, questioning their legality under the Meghalaya Police Act, 2010.
He further observed that the current ruling dispensation suffers from a severe lack of cohesion, inclusivity, and collective cabinet accountability, which has left elected representatives frustrated and sidelined at the grassroots level.
(4FrontMedia news)
