Williamnagar, Sept 2: While the NPP celebrated its 13th Founders Day in Williamnagar with a massive gathering, there was little jubilation in the opposition camps as they watched their supporters and leaders walk out and embrace the ruling dispensation.
Over 300 political workers and supporters from different political parties formally joined the NPP in the presence of Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma during the Foundation Day celebrations.
The welcoming of rivals during major official programmes is not something new in a political environment. But Mondays induction had heads turning across the state, particularly in the Garo Hills, because among the newly inductees were the former Gambegre Congress candidate Jingjang Marak who unsuccessfully contested against the wife of Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma, last year. Marak was once the close confidante of Tura MP Saleng A Sangma. The Tura MP had handpicked Jingjang to be his replacement for Gambegre constituency after his victory in Parliament.
There were also setbacks for the Congress and the Trinamool Congress of Dr Mukul Sangma. Former MDC and Trinamool leader from Tura, Rupert M Sangma was welcomed into the NPP by the Chief Minister during the celebrations.
The Congress too lost some of their loyal and die-hard members, particularly the youth leaders from Tura, who had previously stood by the party even when Mukul Sangma and a host of party leaders left the fold to join the TMC.
Another notable face among the new entrants to the NPP was the former publicity secretary of the disbanded ANVC militant outfit which gave up arms and signed a peace agreement with the government a few years ago.
With elections to the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council just months away, and the unprecedented number of politicians and wanna be politicians flocking to the NPP, this is sweet music to the ears of the party founded by Late P A Sangma.
