Shillong: In a severe blow for the Congress party, at least 12 of the 18 MLAs led by opposition leader Mukul Sangma have defected to the Trinamool Congress (TMC), according to party sources.

Sangma, along with 11 other Congress MLAs, has joined the Trinamool Congress, according to Rajya Sabha Member Sushmita Dev of the Trinamool Congress and a close colleague of Sangma. Eight MLAs from Garo Hills and four from Khasi Jaintia Hills are among the 12 Congress legislators who have joined the Trinamool.

Despite not winning a single seat in the 60-member parliament during the 2018 Assembly elections, the Trinamool Congress has emerged as the biggest opposition party in Meghalaya. Sangma, the former Chief Minister of Meghalaya, is alleged to be dissatisfied with Shillong Lok Sabha Member Vincent H. Pala's selection as the state Congress President in September.

Sangma is said to have met Trinamool Congress National General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee in Kolkata last month, sparking concerns of a breach inside the party in the northeastern state. It was referred to as a courtesy meeting by Sangma.

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