SHILLONG: Meghalaya Deputy Chief Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar has made a stunning declaration, stating he would be the “happiest man” if former Chief Minister Dr. Mukul Sangma were to join the ruling National People’s Party (NPP).
This high-profile speculation arrives just as news surfaced about Dr. Mukul Sangma possibly joining the NPP.
Crucially, the buzz follows a recent public clarification by Dr. Mukul Sangma about the old controversy where he was compelled by the Congress High Command to drop Sniawbhalang Dhar and Prestone Tynsong from his Council of Ministers in 2017 .
Speaking to reporters, Deputy CM , offered nothing but high praise for the former CM.
“Dr. Mukul is a very wise and very capable leader. As a leader, I have great respect for him. He is a leader who knows exactly what he is speaking about, and I respect him because he is one of the greatest leaders of the State,” he said.
When pressed on their shared, complex history—especially the recent clarification by Dr. Mukul regarding Dhar’s removal from the Cabinet—the Deputy CM was emphatic about moving forward.
He said, “I do not wish to re-open what is past, and we always respect each other mutually.”
This statement is seen as a deliberate effort to bury the hatchet and pave the way for a potential alliance.
Addressing the rumour that Dr. Mukul Sangma might be meeting NPP leaders very soon to finalise his entry, Sniawbhalang Dhar, played it cool but did not shut the door.
He commented that such speculation is “just for the sake of conversation” because the next election is still “two and a half years away.” He added cryptically: “The time will come.”
When directly asked whether the NPP would welcome Dr. Mukul Sangma, Dhar made his personal stance crystal clear, “If you ask me personally, I will be the happiest man if Dr. Mukul Sangma were to join the NPP.”
Sniawbhalang Dhar noted that while this is his personal view, the overall decision will be observed “when the time is right, because now is not the time for us to talk about all this.”
The statements by the Deputy Chief Minister signal a significant thaw in political relations and suggest a major political realignment could be on the horizon.
