SHILLONG: Former Chief Minister and senior Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Dr. Mukul Sangma has attributed persistent rumors of a United Democratic Party (UDP) and TMC merger with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to internal rifts within Meghalaya’s ruling coalition.
Sangma described the lack of cohesiveness among coalition partners as the root of ongoing speculation, but said it poses no immediate threat to government stability.
While declining to comment further on the alliance’s internal affairs, Sangma sharply criticized the broader national trend of “political poaching,” warning that orchestrated defections among Members of Parliament set a dangerous precedent that undermines the democratic mandate.
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He noted that while isolated defections occurred in previous Congress regimes, recent years have seen a systematic pattern of opposition figures switching to the BJP in several states, with far-reaching implications for the parliamentary system.
Addressing rumors about the TMC’s own position, Sangma confirmed that while BJP outreach had occurred, his party remains committed to its opposition role and will not compromise its core values for political expediency.
He emphasized that genuine democratic growth must respect core principles and avoid unstable, opportunistic realignments.
(4FrontMedia news)
