SHILLONG: After the temporary support of five Congress members to the PDF coalition led by KHADC CEM P.N Syiem, deputy chief executive member P.T Sawkmie of the Congress said the party will take a decision on its stand on PDF after the by-poll.
“The Congress does not want to topple the EC as the by-election is nearing and the MDCs will take the decision after the by-election whether to support the EC or sit in the opposition,” he told reporters on Wednesday.
After Syiem’s suspension, five Congress members – Parliamentary Party secretary Antonio War, Victor Ranee, Hadrian Lyngdoh, Albinus Lyngdoh and Banteidor Lyngdoh – resigned.
The MDCs who are still with the Congress are Sawkmie, Donovan Wahlang, Mansturdy Nongrem, Lamphrang Blah and Jansing Tynsong.
However, the PDF led by Syiem has the support of 16 members in the House of 23 and hence does not require the support of the five Congress MDCs.
The Congress currently has five members and even if the Congress gets all the six seats after the by-polls, the total tally will be only 11 and the PDF coalition will still have a majority.