SHILLONG: Senior Congress leader and former Chief Minister SC Marak said that the High Command should take the final call on the grievances of the Congress legislators.
With the fresh demand for change of leadership emerging after the setback to the party in Tura by-poll coupled with BJP capturing power in the neighbouring state of Assam, Marak said that he had only heard that there was some talks about change of leadership and added that whatever grievances are there, it should be addressed by the High Command.
“There is some talks and demand for change of leadership, but I have not discussed the matter with anyone”, Marak said.
However, he said that the problems within the Congress party can be aired before the High Command
Asked whether any CLP meeting should be held to solve the issue, Marak said, “the Chief Minister is the Chairman of CLP and it is upto him to take a call on the matter”.
To a question whether the Chief Minister should step down gracefully, the veteran Congress leader wanted to know whether the rebel camp has got the required number to arrive at that stage.
The former Chief Minister, however, admitted that there is anxiety on the part of the legislators after the setback of the party in Tura by-poll considering that 2018 is not far.
“The views of Congress MLAs are that with present situation, there is anxiety as to whether Congress will be able to come back to power in 2018 Assembly polls”, Marak said. Besides, Marak admitted that the victory of BJP in Assam will also have cascading effect on Meghalaya.
Echoing a similar view on the role of High Command, senior Congress Minister Prestone Tynsong said that ultimately any decision regarding the issue of change of leadership is left with the AICC leadership.
Asked whether he was willing to be the next leader, Tynsong avoided any direct reply and only said, “It is upto the High Command to address the problem within the Congress”.
He also said that the grievances will be solved within the party and added that this will not cause any disunity in the party. Meanwhile, as the news spread that the AICC is positive to give ear to the grievances of the rebel Congress legislators including the demand for change of leadership, there were a series of un-official meeting among the Ministers in Meghalaya Secretariat.
Resignation rumours: The rumours that Chief Minister Mukul Sangma tendered his resignation after his meeting with Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi in Delhi has spread like wildfire on Tuesday afternoon only to know later that it was spread by some vested interests.
