Shillong, May 27: Chief Minister and National People’s Party (NPP) chief Conrad K Sangma has asserted that no “high command” exists in the party to impose any decision.
Reacting to Congress president Vincent H Pala’s charge that NPP would face infighting over the Rajya Sabha election, Sangma said his party takes decisions democratically and asked Pala to “see the cracks in the Congress” instead.
“When it comes to the National People’s Party, we are very democratic in our process,” he said.
Asserting that NPP does not function through diktats from the top, he said, “There is no concept of a high command coming in and bulldozing a decision.”
However, he said, internal debate is central to the party’s functioning. “…there is always a very positive, critical and constructive discussion before we finalise anything,” the NPP national chief said.
“In that meeting, we will say everything that we want to say even if it means that I don’t agree with you. That’s how a healthy democracy works and that’s the principle on the basis of which we as a party and even in governance are moving forward,” he added.
Taking on Pala directly, Sangma said, “Let me assure Pala that he doesn’t have to worry about any kind of cracks in the NPP. He has to see more of the cracks in the Congress.”
He said differing views within the NPP were expected but the final call would prioritise the state. “We are here to work together but yes we have our views and we have our opinions and that is natural for any individual,” Sangma said.
“But at the end of the day, we will do what is in the best interest of the party and more importantly what is in the best interest of the state.”
On the Rajya Sabha polls, he said the party would follow the same consultative route.
“All the party MLAs, who are going to be the main voters, will sit down and discuss and then decide on how we should move forward,” he said.
