Shillong, Nov 26: All the 12 MLAs of the newly formed unit of All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) in Meghalaya led by former Chief Minister Dr. Mukul Sangma will be travelling to Kolkata on November 29 to meet Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee.

This was informed by Mawsynram legislator Himalaya Shangpliang on Friday, who has been elected as the secretary for AITC Meghalaya Unit. Dr Sangma was unanimously elected as the Parliamentary Party Leader and Umroi legislator George B Lyngdoh as the opposition chief whip after all the 12 former legislators of Congress got together to organise the party in the state on Friday at Dr Sangma’s residence here.

It may be mentioned that Trinamool Congress has become the chief opposition in Meghalaya Legislative Assembly with the highest number of MLAs in the opposition bench.

“Our leader (Mukul) is leading us on a delegation to Kolkata to meet the chairperson of the All India Trinamool Congress on Monday. We are going to have further detailed discussion on the future of the party in our state,” Shangpliang told reporters.

Meanwhile, Dr. Sangma thanked all the members for reposing their faith in him as a leader. He also assured to carry forward the dreams and aspirations of the people in fulfilling the mandate given to the MLAs.

After the meeting, Shangpliang told reporters that the 12 MLAs are committed to work harder and will be reaching out to the people of the state. “In totality we have decided that all of us will contribute to the development of the state,” he said.

Charles Pyngrope as Trinamool Prez in Meghalya?

Interestingly, sources in the AITC have informed that the former Assembly Speaker and Nongthymmai legislator Charles Pyngrope is likely to be appointed as the president of the AITC in Meghalaya.

Refusing to comment anything on this, Shangpliang however said, “We will be announcing that (decision) on our return from Kolkata after we have detailed discussion with our senior leaders in Kolkata.”

When asked, the AITC leader said that all burning issues of the state including the demand for implementation of the Inner Line Permit (ILP) will be taken up for discussion with the party’s chairperson.

He assured, “We are going to vigorously pursue these demands with the state government as well as with the central government.”