Shillong, Jan. 5: Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) general secretary P.A. Sangma’s dream of giving his party a firm foothold in his home state appears to be finally taking shape. Some top political leaders are poised to join the party before the Assembly polls, due next month. The NCP had got a boost when Meghalaya chief minister F.A. Khonglam joined the party. It is now the turn of industries minister Simon Siangshai, who represents the coal belt of Rymbai in Jaintia Hills, to change allegiance. He is likely to quit the Meghalaya Democratic Party (MDP) soon, but the announcement is being delayed as the minister could be charged with violating the anti-defection law.
The nomination of Siangshai as the party candidate for the Rymbai seat is one of the surprises the NCP is likely to spring. Sources said the party would prise open a “package of surprises” in the coming days.
Siangshai, along with six MLAs, had quit the United Democratic Party to form the MDP when the Peoples’ Forum of Meghalaya coalition came to power last year. An NCP source told The Telegraph that though Siangshai was yet to formally apply for a ticket for Rymbai, he had approached the NCP leadership in this regard.
The MDP is now preparing to go to the hustings without the industries minister in its ranks. Putting up a brave front, it has said that Siangshai’s decision to switch to the NCP could actually help its cause. NCP vice-president W. Kharlukhi, however, refused to confirm whether Siangshai would join the party.
“I do not rule out the possibility of Siangshai contesting the Rymbai seat on an NCP ticket, but we need a few more days to confirm it,” he said.
A source said Siangshai could invite anti-defection penalties if he switched sides at this juncture. “His case is akin to Khonglam’s. The chief minister has yet to apply for NCP membership,” he said.
Siangshai could be asked to wait till the dissolution of the Assembly for joining any party he wants to. His candidature has, however, been provisionally approved by the NCP. The party will unveil its second list of candidates on December 7.