SHILLONG: AICC general secretary in charge Meghalaya, V. Narayanasamy, will arrive here on October 25 after the Durga Puja celebrations to iron out the differences between Chief Minister Mukul Sangma and KHADC Chief Executive Member P.N. Syiem over the dual post Amendment Act.
MPCC chief D.D. Lapang informed reporters on Friday that the differences will be sorted out during the AICC leader’s meeting with party legislators.
Lapang was reacting to a question on the growing rift between Sangma and Syiem.
After the Assembly passed the dual post Bill on September 24, it was notified in the official gazette on October 8 following the assent by the Governor.
Though the Bill is effective from October 1 after it has become an Act, Syiem is yet to relinquish the post of MDC.
Syiem had openly criticized the chief minister over his style of functioning and even quit the post of Chairman of Meghalaya Economic Development Council by saying that he cannot work under the chief minister.
Asked why no show cause was issued to Syiem for his open revolt against the chief minister, Lapang said, “I have apprised the AICC of the day to day development. We hope that the differences will be settled after the arrival of the AICC leader,” he added.
Lapang shields Mukul over GHADC poll debacle
MPCC president D.D. Lapang stood by Chief Minister Mukul Sangma by sharing the responsibility jointly for the Congress debacle in the GHADC poll even as he said that the Government should wake up and work hard.
Speaking to reporters on Friday, Lapang said no one can blame the chief minister, who hails from Garo Hills, for the poor performance of the party in the polls.
Asked whether the state leadership (chief minister) should be blamed for the debacle, Lapang said it was a joint responsibility and nobody can be blamed.
“We had faced a lot of elections. The party tried its best and fielded candidates. But we respect the mandate of the people,” Lapang said, while adding that the elected Congress MDCs will continue to serve the people by sitting in the opposition.
Lapang admitted that the GHADC poll was a warning for the Government to perform better. “We should wake up and be more vigilant,” he said.
To a query on the growing influence of the BJP in Meghalaya after it secured a seat in the GHADC, the MPCC president said despite the presence of BJP in Meghalaya and elsewhere in the North East, the Congress in Meghalaya would not lose hope.
