SHILLONG, AUG 23: Opposition Congress in Meghalaya has said it will move the courts to oppose the merger of its three MLAs with the ruling National People’s Party (NPP) and further stated that it is also mulling over withdrawing from the executive committee in the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) where it shares power with the NPP and other regional parties.
Addressing the media after chairing a meeting of the party, state Congress chief Vincent H Pala said, “We are consulting (with legal experts) and we are getting the papers (ready) so definitely we will file a case. There is no doubt about that.”
He informed that the party is still consulting with legal experts on how to go about challenging the Assembly Speaker’s order that gave recognition to the merger of its three MLAs with the NPP, on August 19.
Implying the NPP of being the B team of BJP in its campaign for a “Congress Mukt Bharat”, Pala said, “The NPP also has the same voice here – Meghalaya Congress Mukt. This voice is being tutored by the BJP. The people of Meghalaya should know that the BJP and the NPP relationship is becoming stronger and stronger.”
He revealed that there has been an overwhelming demand by a majority of Congress party workers who want the party to pull out of the present NPP-led Executive Committee in the KHADC.
In the KHADC house of 30 members, the Congress now has only two MDCs– Ronnie Lyngdoh (who is also Mylliem MLA) and Pynshngainlang N Syiem (Mawkhar-Pynthorumkhrah). Two other Congress MLA cum MDCs, Charles Marngar and Gabriel Wahlang, have joined the NPP.
Congress MDC Pynshngainlang is currently the deputy chief executive member in the NPP led EC headed by Pyniaid Sing Syiem.
“The mood of our workers is that we should go alone in the district council and they have also entrusted the president and his team to examine the pros and cons. The overall mood is that they are not happy with the way the NPP is doing and the way it is happening in the district council. So, most of them think that we should withdraw from the council,” Pala announced, adding that whatever decision is taken would follow the rules and system.
“Our Dy CEM Pynshngain had assured them that we have a system. We are a national party. We cannot just walk in or walk out. We have to see the pros and cons. The interest of the public has to be taken into consideration. Majority of them have entrusted the party leadership to make a decision,” he added.
The Congress president also justified the decision for his party to align with the NPP in the KHADC.
Pala said that the decision of the Congress to support the NPP-led EC in the KHADC was based on issues related to the amendment of the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution of India and delimitation of the constituencies ahead of ADC elections.
“We took this decision with a good intention that we should contribute for the amendment of the Sixth Schedule and that we should not allow only the NPP and the BJP to dictate terms. We have experienced politicians like Pynshngain and his team, we should not allow the NPP and BJP to take decisions whatever they like. That was our intention (extending support to the NPP),” he clarified.
“Also, there was the delimitation of the district council constituencies and many other things which needed our participation because at that time there was a big issue between the NPP and the UDP. The people of Meghalaya and Khasi-Jaintia would have been left unattended if we didn’t participate. So our intention was to contribute to the welfare of the people.”
Asked on the delay to take a decision on the matter despite demand made by party workers following the MP elections, Pala said, “You may say that it may be late but our intention is that we are not a party which is under pressure by anybody. We should scrutinize and we should examine and see that the priority is to protect our people and preserve our culture, our land and our unity.”
Congress working president Pynshngain N Syiem said, “The voice of the party workers is to relook at our working together with the district council. This has been endorsed to the state president and leaders to discuss on this issue.”
“Because I think you understand it is not appropriate for us to act in a hurried manner. As wherever we are we have only one objective to do the best for our people. It is not too late for us because in the last one year you all know many things we did in the district council, we had many complicated issues until we worked together,” he said while adding “…we have contributed so much in the district council in terms of regulation, acts, rules. For example, we have passed many bills and amendments for the interest of our people.”
