Meghalaya: Mukul Sangma Dismisses Rumours of Joining NPP, Calls Them 'Wishful Thinking'

Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader and Leader of the Opposition in Meghalaya, Mukul Sangma, has strongly refuted recent speculations about him switching to the ruling National People's Party (NPP), describing the reports as "absurd" and mere wishful thinking from certain quarters.

The rumours gained traction following reports suggesting that Sangma was in New Delhi on Saturday, coinciding with the visit of Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma and Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong to the national capital. However, the former Chief Minister clarified that he spent the day in his Songsak constituency, engaging with locals and bolstering grassroots organisations.

"I was in Songsak (Agalgre area) yesterday, meeting residents and working to strengthen the party at the base level. The location has poor mobile connectivity, which limited my communication, but I assure everyone—I am not joining the NPP," Sangma stated emphatically.

On Sunday, he participated in several pre-Christmas celebrations, including church visits in the region, and was en route to Tura when he addressed the media.

Addressing circulating photographs showing him with Conrad Sangma and Prestone Tynsong, which fuelled the speculation, Mukul Sangma explained that such interactions are routine among political colleagues, even those with differing ideologies, and do not signal any shift in allegiance.

"We are colleagues operating on different ideological planes. The NPP should focus on its internal challenges, as many within the party are dissatisfied with the current leadership, rather than propagating false stories," he added.

The TMC leader emphasised that his party is fully committed to organisational buildup ahead of the upcoming Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) elections and has no time for distractions.

The NPP leadership has also outright dismissed the rumours. State working president Hamletson Dohling described the reports as baseless, stating, "There is absolutely no truth to claims that Mukul Sangma is in discussions to join us. As someone in Delhi currently, I would be aware of any such significant development involving a leader of his calibre."

It has been confirmed that Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma and Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong travelled to New Delhi for official engagements, including the foundation stone-laying ceremony for the annexe building of Meghalaya House on Monday, followed by meetings with Union ministers.

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