Shillong: Union Minister of State Shantanu Thakur has declined to confirm reports regarding five Meghalaya TMC MLAs potentially joining the BJP. Thakur noted that any such decision rests solely with the party’s central leadership, though he acknowledged that the BJP remains open to welcoming those legislators.
Addressing reporters in Shillong, Thakur suggested that recent electoral setbacks for the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress stem from internal issues. He stated, “I think the corruption within the Trinamool Congress is one of the reasons why it lost elections.”
While speculation grows regarding the political future of the TMC members, neither the BJP nor the affected MLAs have issued formal statements. Thakur emphasized that TMC representatives are welcome to attend government functions, clarifying that their presence at such events does not signal an automatic move to his party. He described the process as a matter for the national leadership to weigh.
Thakur also addressed the BJP’s broader strategy in Meghalaya, noting that the party aims to gain voters' trust through consistent development and long-term work rather than rapid campaigning. He identified geography and communication hurdles as obstacles to the party’s growth in the state, yet maintained that the central government’s focus on the Northeast remains a priority. He highlighted that the current administration is dedicated to the vision of developing every part of the region to foster future political progress.
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