In a significant political development, former minister and Garo Hills leader Zenith M. Sangma has rejoined the Congress, a move the Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) hailed as a “decisive turning point” in the state’s political landscape.
The announcement was made in Shillong by MPCC president Vincent H. Pala, following approval from the All India Congress Committee (AICC).
The party described Sangma’s return as a direct rebuttal to the ruling National People’s Party’s (NPP) claim that the Congress was “finished” in the state. Instead, the development marks a renewed wave of confidence and organisational revival for the Grand Old Party, which has been rebuilding its grassroots presence.
The MPCC termed his homecoming symbolic of a wider political reawakening, claiming that several leaders disillusioned by “opportunism and corruption” in other parties were rejoining the Congress fold. It said the resurgence was driven by “faith in democratic values, constitutional integrity, and people-centric governance.”
Sangma’s return is expected to bolster the Congress’s prospects in the Garo Hills, particularly ahead of the upcoming GHADC elections, and reinvigorate party morale.
The Congress framed his return as part of a larger response to what it called a national crisis of democracy, accusing the BJP-led government of eroding institutional independence and “weaponising” agencies such as the ED, CBI and Income Tax Department to target opposition leaders.
Citing official data, the MPCC claimed that 95 per cent of politicians investigated by the ED between 2014 and 2022 belonged to opposition parties, alleging that anti-corruption drives had turned into instruments of political vendetta.
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“The struggle today is not between parties, but between democracy and despotism,” the statement read, asserting that the Congress remained the “moral force” defending constitutional freedoms and the pluralistic idea of India.
The party also used the occasion to attack the NPP-BJP coalition in Meghalaya, alleging a collapse of governance marked by economic mismanagement, rampant illegal coal mining, and widespread corruption.
It cited the B.P. Katakey Committee report, which found that over 13 lakh metric tonnes of coal had been illicitly mined and transported in the state, describing it as evidence of “deep political complicity.”
The MPCC further flagged Meghalaya’s rising debt, deteriorating infrastructure, high unemployment, and declining education and health indicators. It called the collapsed Assembly dome a “symbol of misgovernance” and noted an increase in infant mortality as a sign of systemic neglect.
“What was promised as a ‘double-engine sarkar’ has turned into a vehicle of extraction, enriching a select few while draining Meghalaya’s integrity and resources,” the Congress declared.
Portraying the moment as a renewal of purpose, the MPCC urged citizens to unite against corruption and divisive politics. “This is not about nostalgia—it is about responsibility,” it said.
“The Congress that won India its freedom now takes up the cause of liberating the nation from fear, hate, and unchecked power.”
The party described the movement as a “second freedom struggle”, vowing to restore accountability, rebuild institutions, and uphold justice and dignity.
“The message is clear,” the MPCC concluded. “Meghalaya belongs to its people. India belongs to all Indians—equal under the Constitution.”
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