SHILLONG: As political tremors rattle Meghalaya’s opposition landscape, Leader of Opposition and former Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma has struck a defiant chord—asserting that Congress is not a sinking ship, but a party momentarily sailing against an adverse political tide. In a sharp political rebuttal amid a shrinking opposition bloc and widespread defections, Sangma tore into what he described as the ruling NPP’s predatory political tactics, calling upon citizens to reclaim democratic values that are “no longer in sync with the core of our Constitution.”
“Well, the political dynamics in the state have changed. Political dynamics in the country have changed over the decades, which is not in sync with the core values of our democracy,” said Dr Sangma, lamenting how elected representatives have begun to treat party allegiance like a dispensable commodity. “People expect that the candidates they elect from one political party will shift allegiance. Was there any reason for that? The people have to be analytical and use their own wisdom.”
Taking a pointed dig at the NPP’s repeated attempts to fracture the opposition, Sangma likened the exercise to a war strategy. “That’s why how we choose our comrades and colleagues matters. If you know someone will run away before even firing a bullet, should you take him along to the frontline?” he asked, warning that politics today is “a battlefield 24×7” where politicians are constantly tempted and tested.
On the Congress’ decline since his departure in 2021, Sangma refused to engage in finger-pointing, but reminded that governance should transcend constituency boundaries. “We are in the same boat. If the boat sinks, we all sink,” he said, adding that “people will demonstrate their wisdom and decide what is best for the state.”
Rejecting the narrative that Congress has become politically irrelevant, Sangma stated emphatically, “Well, I will not see from that, rather, no political party is sinking. In politics, there are ups and downs. Even HSPDP has been there for decades. NPP had only two MLAs once in 2013. People will rally around a team they believe will protect their interests and rise above personal ambitions. I believe in the wisdom of the people of Meghalaya.”
Responding to speculation about his own political trajectory, Sangma clarified that he is firmly in the TMC. “We are trying to strengthen the party to which we belong. You saw what happened in the by-election—the ruling party had to deploy massive resources. The Chief Minister had to camp in the constituency. Were we not formidable? Yes, we were,” he said, dismissing all presumptions about party-hopping. “Political dynamics may unfold, but I won’t play the astrologer. What I know is that the people are vigilant, alert, and I will always take my cues from them.”
Admitting that the TMC has not yet fully penetrated Khasi-Jaintia Hills, Sangma was brutally honest. “Let me be frank. Did we try? We did not try. We never tried,” he said. But he remained optimistic, stating that the initial surge in support during the party’s launch proved its political magnetism. “We may not have been able to convert that into a solid vote bank, but we understand why—and that gives us hope.”
Sangma also made it clear that the current opposition numbers—despite being whittled down to single digits—are enough to hold the ruling regime accountable. “Whether it is TMC or VPP, we are enough to deal with this dispensation and expose their self-centric agendas. You will see how we reveal their anti-people programmes and how power is being misused and abused at the cost of the state’s interests.”
When asked if any other party had reached out with feelers, he laughed off the question: “Everyone knows the mind of Mukul Sangma. So I think they will think twice before sending any fillers.”
With Meghalaya’s political theatre entering a volatile phase, Dr Mukul Sangma’s political call to arms is loud and clear: realign with democratic values, reject political opportunism, and prepare for a prolonged political reckoning.
