In the midst of swirling speculation around his political future, Leader of Opposition and former Meghalaya Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma has made it abundantly clear that his loyalty to the Trinamool Congress (TMC) remains intact—for now. Rubbishing rumours of a party switch, the veteran political tactician reinforced his commitment to public service and accused the ruling dispensation of resorting to predatory politics to destabilize the opposition.
“See, I am in TMC. As a party in the state of Meghalaya, in our Legislative Assembly, we are vested with the responsibility to serve the people—whether in government or in opposition. Our role revolves around protecting the interests of the people,” Dr Sangma said in a sharp rejoinder to questions on his political positioning. “Therefore, the priority is to respond to the call of duty and fulfill it.”
Firmly dismissing assumptions of political re-alignment, Dr Sangma clarified that rather than building new alliances, his focus is on “strengthening the existing political party to which we belong.” Citing the party’s spirited campaign during the bye-elections, he said, “You saw how much force the ruling party had to deploy? How many days the Chief Minister had to camp in the constituency? Were we not formidable? Yes, we were.”
Turning the spotlight on the political churn and the tactics being deployed by those in power, he remarked, “The present dispensation has been engaging in constant poaching. Therefore, every political party is under the scrutiny of the people. That’s precisely why you’re asking this question.”
In a politically introspective tone, the seasoned leader said, “As political dynamics unfold, I won’t pretend to be an astrologer. But what I can say with certainty is the people of Meghalaya are vigilant and alert. I know what’s in their minds. My strategy will be shaped by the challenges that confront the state—not me personally, but the state.”
When asked about the dwindling presence of TMC in Khasi and Jaintia Hills, Dr Sangma offered a candid admission: “Let me be frank. We have not tried to strengthen the party in Khasi Hills. We fought only one election. After the merger and the formation of TMC’s identity in Meghalaya, people gravitated towards us. But we couldn’t convert that momentum into a strong support base.”
Explaining the political undercurrent that once surrounded him and his colleagues, he said, “At one point, the announcement of a new political party acted like an epicentre—creating a gravitational pull. But yes, we couldn’t hold on to that and transform it into an enduring votebank. I understand why. These are lessons that give me hope.”
On the question of opposition unity, Dr Sangma held that the combined numbers of TMC and the Voice of the People Party (VPP) are enough to mount a potent challenge. “Opposition is opposition. Our numbers are sufficient to effectively expose this dispensation and their alleged irregularities. There’s a sense of impunity with which they operate—but they’re wrong. We will expose their self-centric agendas and anti-people programmes.”
Charging the government with deliberately distorting public discourse, he said, “They come up with one issue after another to dislocate the narrative—especially on issues with serious ramifications for the state’s future. Power is being misused and abused at the cost of Meghalaya’s interest.”
And on whether any party had sent overtures to him, Dr Sangma gave a pointed response: “Everyone knows the mind of Mukul Sangma, so I think they will think twice before sending any fillers.”
