SHILLONG: The AICC general secretary in-charge of Meghalaya CP Joshi has dismissed the reports of dissidence within the state Congress by terming it as “the perception of media”.
Speaking to mediapersons after his meeting with the Congress MLAs, MDCs and the party workers here on Tuesday, Joshi said, “Congress is a democratic party and in a democratic setup everyone has the right to air his or her opinion.”
While dismissing the reports that he has come to Shillong to sort out the issues between the dissidents and Chief Minister, he said that his visit to the state was to understand the health of the party and the functioning of the state government.
Surprisingly, several party functionaries including KHADC CEM PN Syiem, who has openly revolted against the Chief Minister, skipped Tuesday’s meeting.
Others who did not attend the meeting include the Government chief whip RV Lyngdoh, Kennedy Khyriem, Ngaitlang Dhar, Winnerson Momin, Clement Marak, Celestine Lyngdoh, Comingone Ymbon and Sports & Youth affairs minister Zenith Sangma.
Reacting to a query about the absence of so many MLAs, he said, “I don’t know whether they have informed the MPCC on this”.
Echoing Joshi, the MPCC president DD Lapang said, “Congress is a big family and there can always be differences of opinions.”
‘No replay of Arunachal’: Joshi, Meanwhile, predicted that there will not be a replay of Arunachal Pradesh like situation in Meghalaya at the same time he alleged that the BJP is desperate to make inroads into Northeastern region.
“The desperation led them to enter into an alliance with other political parties to form the government in Assam,” he said.
