Mukul Sangma, the ex‑chief minister of Meghalaya, rejected the BJP’s overtures on Thursday, saying he will not join any national party.
The BJP’s push in the state has already seen eight UDP MLAs switch allegiance, boosting its tally to 10 seats in the 60‑member assembly.
When asked if the party had approached him, Sangma declined to confirm or deny any outreach, adding that even if approached, he would not disclose it.
He emphasized that the TMC, which now holds five MLAs after former Congress stalwarts joined in 2021, remains resilient and cannot be weakened by the BJP’s expansion.
Sangma warned that voters, not legislators, decide the state’s political future, suggesting the BJP’s strategy must pivot to win over ordinary constituents.
With the TMC’s foothold intact, the BJP’s next challenge will be courting independent legislators and the electorate before the forthcoming state elections.