Meghalaya: Former CM Sangma & 11 Congress MLAs join Trinamool

KOLKATA: 12 Congress MLAs in Meghalaya joined Trinamool Congress on Thursday.
This includes former chief minister Mukul Sangma and 11 other MLAs. Congress had 18 MLAs in the 60-member assembly and Sangma, a five-time MLA, is currently the leader of the opposition.
Of the 12 Congress legislators who joined the Trinamool, eight MLAs are from Garo Hills, while four lawmakers are from Khasi Jaintia hills.
With the latest political development, despite not winning any seat in 2018 Assembly elections, the Trinamool Congress has now become the main opposition party in the Meghalaya house.

Former Meghalaya Chief Minister Sangma was said to be upset over the appointment of Shillong Lok Sabha Member Vincent H. Pala as the state Congress President in September.
Sangma reportedly met Trinamool's National General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee in Kolkata last month triggering speculation amid a reported rift within the Congress in the northeastern state. Sangma had termed it as a courtesy meeting.
(With agency inputs)