Phulbari legislator SG Esmatur Mominin and Raliang MDC Robinus Syngkon on Thursday formally joined the opposition All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) ahead of the Assembly polls.
Both the leaders were welcomed by AITC state president Charles Pyngrope and Legislature Party leader and leader of opposition Dr Mukul Sangma and other party leaders at a function held at Pinewood Hotel here.
Speaking to reporters, Mominin, who resigned as NPP MLA, was instrument in introducing NPP to Phulbari constituency.
Stating that people of Phulbari constituency till 2018 rejected (L) PA Sangma and his party, the former NPP leader said, “During the life time of late PA Sangma , during his time in Congress, they had the last MLA in 1978 after that from 1983 to 2018 all these years- wherever PA Sangma was, whether he was in Congress, he was in NCP, NPP or any other parties that he had been in they never won Phulbari seat, long after 40 years I am the only person from NPP who won Phulbari seat.”
After allegedly being sidelined by NPP Nation president Conrad Sangma, Mominin said that he was not happy with the government’s decision with regards to the border issue and this was one of the main reasons he did not apply for a ticket from the National People’s Party.
He said that the issue has been there since the inception of the state in 1972 and no chief minister has dared to take it up because they know in order to resolve this issue we have to give our own land to Assam.
“However, our chief minister Conrad K Sangma did not care about the sentiments and the emotions of the people of the state and especially of the Garo community that is why I am very much unhappy about this border issue and this is one of the reasons that I did not try for the ticket,” he said.
Mominin said that he has decided to join the TMC because its supremo Mamata Banerjee had assured that the party will try to bring back those villages which were given to Assam, if it forms the government in the state.
Stating that the present government had failed to address the plight of the teachers in the state, he said he had raised the issue in the Assembly and met chief minister and education minister on the need to increase the salary of the adhoc teachers as well as issue related to the SSA teachers but they were not heard by the government.
According to him, when Mukul Sangma was the chief minister of the state, the government had increased the salary of the adhoc teachers three times.
When asked, Mominin expressed confidence that he will be able to retain his seat.
“I have tried to develop the Phulbari constituency in the last four and a half years. I have reposed my faith in the voters of Phulbari who are still with me and are supporting me. They were the ones who suggested that I join the TMC. I am very sure that I am going to retain the seat.”
The former NPP leader said that the people of Garo Hills are favouring the TMC under the leadership of Mukul Sangma.
“People are very much happy with the functioning of Dr Mukul Sangma when he was chief minister, the way he helped the people and the way he has developed the state especially Garo Hills,” he added.
Mominin further predicted that the NPP may get only 4-5 seats out of 24 constituencies in Garo Hills region.
“Take it on record that in this election 2023, TMC will be the single largest party in Garo hills and NPP maybe they should be satisfied with 4-5 seats,” he said.
He also advised the chief minister Conrad K Sangma to work hard if he wants to retain his South Tura seat.
“He (CM) will have to work hard if he wants to retain the seat. So far as our knowledge goes, he has to work very hard to retain his own seat,” he said.
Earlier, Mukul Sangma also thanked current MDC of Raliang, West Jaintia Hills, Robinus Syngkon for joining the Meghalaya TMC family.
“We’ve two young dynamic leaders of the state who’ve along with their supporters decided to be a part of the Meghalaya Trinamool Congress and be a part of our team in our resolve to serve the state and nation as a whole. On behalf of the comrades and colleagues, on behalf of the State President Charles Pyngrope and all the other functionaries, I welcome our friends,” Dr. Sangma said.
“ Our friend and the sitting MLA of the Phulbari constituency, one of our young and promising leaders who people have chosen to elect, S. G. Esmatur Mominin. I’m glad that you are part of the parivaar. I’d like to both welcome and congratulate your supporters, all the electorates of your constituency who collectively decided to be a part of this great parivaar,” he added.
While welcoming Robinus Syngkon, the former MLA and sitting MDC from Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council, the Leader of opposition in Meghalaya Legislative Assembly said, “Syngkon has been a man who has served the people in different capacities. First, as a government official, then as an elected representative to serve people from very difficult areas. He represented – in 2013 and 2018 – a very difficult area in our state, the Mowkaiaw constituency.”
After serving as a District Transport Officer for eight years, Syngkon quit his job in 2013 as he was more interested in joining politics to serve the people. During the 2013 Assembly Election, he won as an independent candidate from Mowkaiaw Assembly Constituency.