Meghalaya Congress Keeps Door Open for Mukul Sangma’s Return, But Reminds Him of His Own ‘Never Again’ Pledge

Shillong: As speculation mounts that former Chief Minister Mukul Sangma is actively exploring options with multiple political parties ahead of the 2028 Assembly elections, the Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) said it would welcome him back, but pointedly reminded him of his earlier public declaration that he would “never return” to the Congress after quitting the party to join the Trinamool Congress in 2021.

MPCC president Vincent H Pala, responding to questions on how the party would manage the leadership dynamics between Mukul Sangma and the rising Garo Hills leader Saleng A Sangma if the former rejoins, said, “Politics has no permanent friends or permanent enemies. The Congress is not anyone’s personal property – anyone who wants to come back is welcome.”

However, Pala added a sharp caveat: “Dr Mukul Sangma himself had said very clearly that he would never come back to the Congress. He knows his own position in the party better than anyone else.”

Dismissing media reports of internal friction over leadership, Pala asserted that questions about who will lead the party exist “only in newspapers, not inside the Congress.” He claimed such narratives are usually floated by leaders who left the party and now need a scapegoat for their departure.

The Congress state chief expressed confidence that public support is steadily shifting back to the grand old party in Meghalaya. “Many leaders who were dropped from the Cabinet are ready to return if we put up strong candidates and work hard on the ground,” he said, revealing that a significant number of leaders and workers are expected to join the party in January 2025.

Pala also declared that he will continue to lead the Meghalaya Congress as long as the organisation desires, adding firmly, “I am not someone who can be bulldozed by anyone.”

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