Sonia unhappy with setbacks in GHADC, Nongstoin polls
NEW DELHI/ SHILLONG: With the political fallout of the dual post issue by way of ‘differences’ between Chief Minister Mukul Sangma and KHADC Chief Executive Member P.N. Syiem lingering, the latter will arrive in Delhi on Wednesday to discuss the issue with AICC leaders.
MPCC president D.D. Lapang met AICC president Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday and apprised her about the pending issue of dual post which has become an irritant affecting the unity of the party since the KHADC chief is at loggerheads with Chief Minister Mukul Sangma over the issue.
Sources said that Syiem will explain the same views to the high command which he had conveyed to AICC general secretary V. Narayanasamy during his Shillong visit recently to discuss the dual post issue.
Syiem had earlier said that the dual post Bill was taken up by the Chief Minister without due consultations within the party.
It is understood that the chief minister might also meet Sonia in Delhi.
Meanwhile, distressed over repeated defeats of Meghalaya Congress, an unhappy Sonia on Tuesday asked Lapang to carefully select the suitable candidates in the state election committees.
The party lost in the GHADC polls recently and also in the Nongstoin by polls despite the Congress high command giving the State party leadership a free hand to choose candidates, Sonia told Lapang.
In future, the election committee should be more careful, she told the former Meghalaya chief minister, AICC sources said on Wednesday.
Incidentally, Lapang met the AICC general secretary before meeting the party president. Lapang also held a series of meetings with Lok Sabha member from Shillong, Vincent H Pala, before and after the high level meetings.
The issue of dual post issue is likely to be taken up by the AICC top brass after Syiem lands in the national capital on Thursday.
Meanwhile, a statement issued by the office of the MPCC chief on Tuesday said Lapang had given the detailed reports as wanted by AICC on the political situation.
Lapang also discussion the party organization including the elections to GHADC and by election to Nongstoin, the statement added.
According to Lapang, Sonia directed that the party should be strengthened and revamped properly in the State and all the frontal wings, like Mahila and Youth Congress have to work hard besides “all election committees under MPCC should do its homework thoroughly and seriously”.
Sonia also asked Lapang to ensure unity in the party in the State.