SHILLONG, MAR 21: Opposition Congress chief and Shillong MP Vincent H Pala stated on Thursday that the party had approached and requested Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader and former Chief Minister, Dr.Mukul Sangma to return to the Congress. However, Sangma is determined to join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) after the upcoming elections to the 18th Lok Sabha.

“I can confess in front of all of you that our team has met Dr. Mukul and urged him to return. I personally told Mukul to come back to the Congress or stay with the TMC, and we could work together. However, instead he himself is trying to persuade our people to join the BJP,” Pala told reporters.

Alleging that Mukul is determined to join the BJP, Pala said, “Definitely, they (Mukul and his team) will join (the BJP). They are trying to recruit many of our workers. For example, in Ri Bhoi, they have already started approaching our people to join the BJP. In Shillong West and other places, TMC leaders are also attempting to persuade our leaders to join the BJP. They have suggested to us from the TMC to join the BJP.”

He stated that this is the reason why the Congress refused to form an alliance with the TMC in Meghalaya. According to him, the party in the state had thoroughly deliberated before making this decision.

“In Meghalaya, my team and I have discussed extensively because we are aware that TMC leaders have been in discussions with the BJP on numerous occasions. It is evident that after the elections, many TMC leaders will join the BJP. I briefed the high command and our leaders accordingly, and they agreed with me. Therefore, we decided not to form an alliance here because we understand that the TMC is the B-team of the BJP. Why should we sacrifice? Today, we ask our people, especially those in the Congress, to vote for the TMC, but tomorrow, if they join the BJP, we will fall victim to the BJP’s ideas,” Pala stated.

“Considering all these factors, I believe we are wise enough to recognize the ground reality that the TMC in Meghalaya is no longer the same as in Bengal. With this understanding, I think we were able to persuade our high command that we should not form an alliance here. It is not that we dislike the TMC, but we believe that it is not suitable for Meghalaya because their leaders are already inclined towards joining the BJP,” he added.

Pala stated that therefore, there is no question of an ego clash between him and Mukul Sangma.

“I don’t have an ego. I can tell you that I never think about my personal interests; I always think about the interests of the people and the party. So, I always put aside my ego. I don’t have an ego, and if somebody has an issue with me, that’s a different matter. I don’t have an ego with anybody. I am ready to talk and work for the interests of the party and the people. So, the question of ego does not arise as far as I am concerned,” he said.

Furthermore, the Congress chief expressed confidence that the party would outperform the TMC in Garo Hills in the upcoming LS polls.

“That is why definitely, in Garo Hills, Congress will perform better than TMC. I can assure you of that. Winning or losing is another matter, but we will give a good fight, and our party will revive in Meghalaya. We cannot revive the party if we are strong only in Khasi Hills; we have to be strong in all districts and the entire state for people to trust us. After this MP election, regardless of the outcome, people will return to the Congress,” he said.

“I think the TMC will not get more votes than the BJP. According to me, the TMC will come last in Garo Hills this time. The way TMC workers, cadres, and leaders have joined the Congress in Garo Hills, it seems that TMC will not be able to match even the level that the BJP achieved in Garo Hills,” he added.

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