Many people believed that these politicians would switch parties shortly and join the BJP in time for the state elections. Early in 2019, Meghalaya will hold elections for the assembly.
Digital Desk: Four MLAs of poll-bound Meghalaya, one from Trinamool Congress (TMC), two from NPP and one Independent MLA join Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at its headquarter in New Delhi on Wednesday.
Before the 2023 Meghalaya Assembly elections, HM Shangpliang of the TMC, legislators from the National People's Party, Ferlin Sangma and Benedic Marak, and Samuel Sangma, an independent, have all joined the BJP.
Last month, Speaker Metbah Lyngdoh received resignation letters from Benedic Marak, Ferlin Sangman, and Shangpliang. The Meghalaya Democratic Alliance, led by the NPP and currently in power in the northeastern state, they have now allied itself with the BJP.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma was there when the leaders opted to join the BJP.
There was lots of speculation that these politicians will soon leave their current parties and join the BJP in time for the state elections. Meghalaya will have assembly elections early in 2019.
In the meantime, Mamata Banerjee claimed that the BJP-led Centre has neglected Meghalaya and other northeastern states and that her party wants to help the people of Meghalaya to ensure that the state is run by "sons of the land" in her speech at a TMC workers' convention in Shillong on Tuesday.
"Meghalaya and other northeastern states have received nothing at all from the federal government. We'll make sure that the hill state prospers and that we bring about change "PTI cited her as having said.
