Tura, April 7: Today Congress, tomorrow NPP and the day after to TMC, or even a reversal- appears to be the emerging pattern across the political arena for party workers and “loyalists” as campaigning heats up in Garo Hills for the April 19th Lok Sabha elections for the 2-Tura Parliamentary seat.
Anyone having some weightage or political clout are either being grabbed or lured with inducements by any or all of the competing groups for the Tura MP seat.
The ruling NPP is leading the race to consolidate its position and woo the maximum number of disgruntled workers and supporters from the opposition camp taking advantage of the division between the Congress and the All India Trinamool Congress- both alliance partners in the opposition INDIA Bloc but fighting amongst themselves for the coveted Tura crown.
But the two opposition parties have also upped their game fortifying their defenses by bringing in new faces from old parties to fill their rank and file and give a fight to Conrad K Sangma’s party.
Just a few days back, the Trinamool roped in candidates from different constituencies in last year’s assembly polls. A former BJP candidate from Dadenggre, Republican Party of India candidates from Dadenggre, Dalu, Rangsakona and Gambegre joined the Trinamool ranks with their supporters.
There were also disillusioned party cadres from the ruling side that reportedly joined the Bengal centric party together with several BJP workers angered by the party high command’s decision not to contest the twin seats in Meghalaya in favour of the NPP.
“A sizable number of NPP workers from North Tura and BJP workers from south Tura have joined the TMC to work together and ensure our candidate’s victory,” said TMC’s Richard Marak.
While the TMC looks to break the stranglehold of the NPP in this election, their left flank appears to be open for conquest by another opponent- the Congress.
Several dozen supporters and workers of the Trinamool from Williamnagar constituency in East Garo Hills severed ties with the Bengal party to shake hands with the Indian National Congress on Sunday at a special programme held at Congress Bhawan in the east Garo Hills district headquarters.
“All the key members of the TMC who looked after various areas of Williamnagar have joined us today because they realise it is only the Congress that can stand up to the BJP-NPP combine. Even yesterday, we witnessed TMC members crossing over to us during our campaign in Kharkutta, and everyone knows Kharkutta was once a strong ground for the TMC, but not anymore. We are gaining ground with each day and strongly believe the final fight will be between us and the NPP,” a confident Deborah Marak, Congress working president in the state, told this scribe.
As the campaign days linger on, more of such wardrobe changes are expected from fence sitters keenly keeping their ears to the ground for any fresh change in the political winds.
