TMC only credible alternative to proxy-BJP government: Mamata Banerjee in Meghalaya

Mamata said that the alliance government was being run by the BJP from Assam

Trinamool Congress supremo and Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday said that TMC is the only credible alternative in Meghalaya against the "proxy-BJP government" in the state gearing up for Assembly elections on February 27.

Addressing a rally at Mendipathar in Garo Hills, Banerjee said, "We are taking care of the farmers in Bengal and giving Rs. 10,000 per year. We are giving free ration at doorsteps, girls education is free, we give credit cards of Rs 10 lakh to students, and schemes for the fishermen, tribals, OBCs and all sections of the society. But I have come to know that many villages here are even lacking electricity. What has the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance government done? Let them present their report card before making big promises."

Mamta said that the MDA government was being run by BJP from Guwahati. "Our government will be of Meghalaya, for Meghalaya and by the people of Meghalaya. After coming to power in Meghalaya, we will implement all the schemes we have given to the people in Bengal. They will say a lot before the elections but will forget thereafter."

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The National People's Party (NPP) now leads the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance government in which BJP is a minor ally with two MLAs. The TMC is pitted against the NPP led by CM Conrad Sangma, which has decided to contest the elections in all 60 seats. The Trinamool has named 52 out of 60 candidates.

BJP, on the other hand, has claimed that no party will be able to form the next government without the saffron party as a partner.

In the 2018 Assembly elections, TMC did not win a single seat but it became the principal opposition party in November 2021 when 12 out of 17 Congress MLAs led by former CM Mukul Sangma joined it. Mukul is the TMC's legislature party leader while Charles Pyngrope, the former Speaker is the party's state president now. Sangma and Pyngrope, the two strong leaders representing the dominant Garo and Khasi communities respectively, are being strongly projected as "sons of the soil" as TMC tries hard to shed the tag of "Bengali party" and win the hearts of the tribal-majority state.

Mukul Sangma questioned the NPP government regarding the agreement it signed with neighbouring Assam to end the border disputes. “We need to defend our tribe and fight against the BJP, not with mere weapons but with the power of unity. On the border issue, we have seen that 13,850 acres of our land have been given to Assam and we have to retrieve it.”

This was Mamta's second visit to Meghalaya ahead of the Assembly elections. Banerjee visited Shillong on December 13. TMC has named 52 candidates.

Garo Hills has 24 Assembly seats and both Mukul Sangma and Conrad Sangma are candidates in Garo Hills.