Shillong (Meghalaya), April 23: The BJP is making another play for Meghalaya’s biggest political prize, with senior legislator A.L. Hek confirming Thursday that the party will renew its pitch to Leader of the Opposition Mukul Sangma to join its ranks ahead of the 2028 Assembly battle.
Hek said Sangma hasn’t said no. “He has sought time to consider it,” the BJP leader told reporters, adding that the party will “approach him again at an appropriate time.” The renewed outreach signals the BJP’s push to grow beyond its current base by pulling in marquee names from rival camps.
Sangma, a former chief minister and still a dominant force in state politics, walked out of the Congress in 2021 to join the Trinamool Congress. His next step remains the most watched move in Meghalaya politics, with insiders saying he is weighing options while keeping channels open with multiple parties, including his old party, the Congress. Rumours of a new regional outfit also continue to swirl, but Sangma has not confirmed anything.
Hek added fuel to the speculation by claiming at least four sitting MLAs are already in touch with him and could cross over to the BJP before 2028. He declined to reveal names, but the statement points to quiet realignments already underway as parties map their strategies early.
With two years to go for the polls, the BJP is moving to consolidate influence in Meghalaya by courting established leaders. Whether Sangma bites could reshape the state’s political math.
