Shillong, Jan 12: A word is spreading in the political arena that many from the opposition parties, particularly Congress is likely to join the ruling National People’s Party (NPP) before 2023 elections.
The word has reached the political durbor of the All India Congress Committee (AICC) in Delhi, which has prompted its emissary to land in Shillong to take stock of the situation.
In a series of meeting with Congress MLAs including opposition leader Dr. Mukul Sangma over the past two days, AICC has been able to draw the conclusion that all is well in the Congress camp.
Purposeful discussions with @INCIndia MLAs of Meghalaya today, with conversations about strengthening the party’s organisational machinery and grassroots structure. pic.twitter.com/iP1IjWiYwy
— Manish Chatrath (@ChatrathM) January 11, 2021
AICC in-charge for Meghalaya, Manish Chatrath told a press conference in Shillong that Congress MLAs are united. “Our PCC, legislators and MDC’s all stand united and I don’t feel there is any reason to feel that there is any horse-trading or anything going on.”
Replying to a query why his party failed to form Government in the state, he said, “We don’t believe in any horse-trading or poaching”.
Ringing the election bell for Congress, the senior AICC leader said, “We are not approaching anybody, we are just organising ourselves as the election is two years ahead in 2023, any political party has to be ready for elections.”
“Our aim will not be the single largest, our aim will be crossing 2/3 majority,” he added.
On preparedness for 2023, Chatrath said, “It will be for the people to decide and people will decide through elections only, we are confident the state is waiting for a change,” he added.
Earlier NPP state president and Rajya Sabha MP, WR Kharlukhi had asserted that the trend of Congress MLAs jumping over to other political parties would repeat in Meghalaya just before the 2023 Assembly elections.
It may be mentioned that just before the 2018 Assembly polls, eight MLAs including five of the Congress had resigned from the State Assembly to join NDA constituent National People’s Party (NPP).
