By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The sudden ‘dropping’ of the two Union ministers of state – Vincent H Pala (Congress) and Agatha Sangma (NCP) – from Meghalaya will accelerate more political activities in the State which is going to polls shortly.
Pala recently ruled out contesting Meghalaya Assembly elections and reiterated that he has no desire to take over the leadership in the State. He had also appreciated the hard work of Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma.
With the changed scenario in Delhi, the Shillong MP has no other option than to frequent Meghalaya ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections.
According to the AICC, it was for strengthening the party in the State that Pala was asked to resign from the Union Cabinet.
With no assignment in Delhi, Pala will now find time to concentrate in State politics.
However, Pala had courted controversy for allegedly supporting his own favourites to contest the upcoming Assembly polls. He had denied the allegation.
The worry for the State Congress in the run up to the Assembly elections is the trend of groupism and infighting in the party with the possibility of senior Congress leaders supporting their own favourite candidates in many constituencies to win support.
In the post poll scenario, with too many potential leaders, selection of the CLP leader can also be a difficult task for the AICC and the elected legislators.
The Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee is yet to react on the exit of Pala from the Union Cabinet.
“It is news for me,” was the only reaction of MPCC president and former Chief Minister DD Lapang.
On the other hand, the exit of NCP leader Agatha Sangma will see her coming closer to the newly floated NPP led by her father Purno A Sangma.
With the split in the State NCP and majority legislators including her two brothers, Conrad and James joining NPP, Agatha will have no other choice than to support and campaign for NPP in the upcoming Assembly elections in Meghalaya.
The intention of the Congress in dropping Agatha from the ministry is aimed at getting maximum mileage for the party in Garo Hills during the State elections.
