Tura, Aug 11: In a startling revelation ahead of the Gambegre bye-poll, BJP Meghalaya’s vice president and Tura MDC, Bernard Marak, has revealed that Tura Lok Sabha MP, Saleng Sangma, had sought BJP’s support during the parliamentary election, held earlier this year.
“He (Saleng) should thank the BJP for not fielding candidate in the election. He should be grateful that even I did not contest as Independent. I fail to understand why he (Saleng) speaks against BJP, when BJP has supported him for his victory,” said Marak in an interview to YouTuber Solly Sangma of Gisikni Kurang.
Marak said that Sangma personally visited him and requested him not to contest as independent and support his candidature.
Marak remarked that if BJP would have contested, the victory margin for Saleng Sangma would have been thin.
He also said that BJP supporters were reluctant to vote for the National People’s Party (NPP) despite directives from the central high command. “BJP supporters in Garo Hills were not willing to support NPP,” he added.
Congress MLAs to join NPP
Another major jolt about to hit Congress is the news of three of its MLAs planning to join NPP. According to reports, three Congress MLAs – Gabriel Wahlang, Charles Marngar, and Celestine Lyngdoh, have reportedly decided to join the NPP ahead of the Gambegre bye-poll.
Sources have further revealed that BJP may reach out to Tura MP Saleng A. Sangma to join its fold, as Congress in Meghalaya is losing ground, despite its electoral success in Garo Hills.
Political pundits say that Congress tried to project their victory in Lok Sabha election but the outcome has been otherwise, and now most Congress supporters in Garo Hills feel cheated and look to shift their loyalties to other parties.
Congress had won 5 seats in the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly elections of 2023, but was reduced to 4 this year with Saleng wining the Tura MP seat. With 3 MLAs set to join NPP, its number would reduce to just 1.
Interestingly, this development comes when the Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) chief and former Shillong MP, Vincent H Pala, is in the United States of America.
NPP already has 28 MLAs; with the addition of 3 more MLAs, its number would swell to 31, giving it an absolute majority in the 60-member Meghalaya Legislative Assembly.
Read: No tourist taxi service from Tura on August 14
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