SHILLONG : Trinamool Congress (TMC) Meghalaya Parliamentary Party chief Mukul M. Sangma said the BJP had approached TMC MLAs earlier, but maintained that his party would continue to remain in the Opposition.
His remarks came amid unconfirmed reports of a possible TMC merger with the BJP in Meghalaya.
“I think that effort was made earlier, but they know our stand,” Sangma said, referring to the BJP’s approach to TMC MLAs. Sangma said TMC members remained committed to their role as an Opposition party and would continue to discharge that responsibility.
“As far as members of the TMC are concerned, I must say with conviction that we remain glued to our responsibility as members of the Opposition and we will continue to work accordingly,” he said. He said political parties were free to expand their support base and enter areas where they had previously failed to make inroads.
However, he warned against attempts to alter the mandate given by voters.
“Every political party will try to expand its reach into areas where it has not been able to make inroads. Democracy provides that space without having to compromise its core values, but manipulating the mandate is a dangerous trend and it does not augur well for democracy,” Sangma said.
On political defections and mergers, the former chief minister said such decisions could happen, but should have a clear reason and an outcome linked to the interests of the people and the state.
“There are times when members belonging to political parties do decide to shift or merge with other political parties, but such decisions should be based on some reason and a clear intended outcome,” he said. Sangma said a political shift made only as a “makeshift arrangement” or simply to remain in power would be a different matter.
He also stressed the need for political parties to respect each other’s positions and strategies, saying this was part of democratic functioning.
“I think it is very important in a democracy to respect each other’s stand,” Sangma said.
