CM dominates meet, CLP secretary, others missing
SHILLONG: With no last word on unity of legislators in the absence of CLP meeting, the issue of demand for change of leadership maxy linger on in the state.
The AICC leader CP Joshi during his short visit to the state on Tuesday could not reach out to the dissident legislators who were absent in the meeting.
Joshi left for Delhi on Tuesday evening, and he still maintains that there is no problem within CLP.
Prominent among those who were absent in Tuesday’s meeting include KHADC CEM PN Syiem, Comingone Ymbon, Kennedy C Khriem ( CLP secretary) , Celestine Lyngdoh, and Ronnie Lyngdoh.
When contacted as to why he skipped the meeting, Syiem said that for him, the issues concerning people come first.
Syiem had convened a meeting on Tuesday morning with stakeholders to address their concerns after they were affected by NGT ban on coal mining.
According to Syiem, the legislators who were absent perhaps were not properly informed.
To a question on the statement of AICC leader Joshi that he is not aware of any differences in the party, Syiem said that the AICC leader should have done some home work.
Meanwhile, party sources said that during the internal meeting held at Congress Bhawan, the Chief Minister dominated the proceedings with other leaders who were present ultimately remaining reluctant to speak out and express their grievances.
According to party insiders, the main functionaries of MPPC were not willing to express many grievances after the Chief Minister painted a rosy picture highlighting the development of the state.
Sources said that however, the lone voices like former Congress legislators Boldness Nongum (West Khasi Hills) and Lahkmen Rimbui spoke about the eroding presence of Congress in both the districts with people getting disillusioned with the functioning of the Congress led government.
A party leader who attended the meeting said that the Chief Minister allegedly blew his own trumpet in the meeting trying to convince the AICC leader Joshi that all is well within the party and CLP.
In his address, the Chief Minister also claimed that he was not getting the required support from the party colleagues. To impress the AICC leader, the Chief Minister was present with Joshi at Hotel Pine wood on Monday evening and throughout the day at Congress Bhawan till his departure to Delhi.
Earlier on Monday evening, while the Chief Minister’s brother Zenith Sangma accompanied the AICC leader from Guwahati to Shillong, the Congress legislator Cherak Momin, who is close to the Chief Minister accompanied Joshi to Guwahati.