Syiem’s suspension, MDCs’ resignation won’t affect party: Prestone
SHILLONG: Despite the suspension of Congress member and KHADC chief PN Syiem and the resignation of five of its MDCs, the Congress does not consider these developments as a threat to the party which is preparing for the by-polls and subsequently the 2018 Assembly polls.
Prominent Congress leader and Cabinet minister Prestone Tynsong said the current political developments will not affect the party’s prospects in both the council by-polls and the Assembly elections to be held in 2018.
To a question on whether Syiem’s suspension will affect the party’s performance in the by-polls, Tynsong said, “Hopefully not”.
He added that as per his knowledge, the action against Syiem was taken as per the directive of the high command.
According to Tynsong, the Congress will ensure that the party candidates win all the seven vacant council seats.
Answering a query on whether the resignation of five Congress MDCs will affect the outcome of the council polls, Tynsong said there are no by-polls in the constituencies of the five Congress MDCs who quit the party. He, however, added that nobody can prevent these MDCs from campaigning against the candidates put up by the Congress. Prestone also said the outcome of the by-polls, whether positive or negative, will have no impact on the 2018 Assembly elections. “The election to the district councils is entirely different from the Assembly polls in the same way the Lok Sabha polls do not have any impact on the Assembly polls,” he added.
As far as revamping the party is concerned, the Congress leader said in the recent executive committee meeting of the MPCC, the issue of strengthening of the party was discussed.