Shillong, Nov 24: In a massive blow to the opposition Congress in Meghalaya, 12 of its MLAs have quit the party to join the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC).

Leader of Opposition and Congress Legislature Party (CLP) Dr. Mukul Sangma along with 11 other legislators submitted their resignation letter to the Meghalaya Assembly Speaker Metbah Lyngdoh on Wednesday evening, sources said.

“We have quit Congress and have joined TMC,” one of the MLAs said over phone. The MLAs are convening a press conference on Thursday to officially announce their decision.

The 12 MLAs include all the eight Congress MLAs from Garo Hills and four from Khasi-Jaintia Hills.

Apart from Mukul Sangma, the other MLAs from Garo Hills are Zenith M Sangma (Rangsakona), Dikkanchi D Shira (Mahendraganj), Miani D Shira (Ampati), Winnerson D Sangma (Salmanpara), Marthon D Sangma (Mendipathar), Jimmy D Sangma (Tikrikilla) and Lazarus Sangma (Chokpot).

From Khasi-Jaintia Hills region, those who quit the Congress include Charles Pyngrope (Nongthymmai), George B Lyngdoh (Umroi), Himalaya Shangpliang (Mawsynram) and Shitlang Pale (Sutnga Saipung).