SHILLONG: In a bid to secure its bastion in Mawsynram, Congress leaders from the constituency have urged people to remain united and continue extending their support to the party.
Addressing a gathering at Mawsynram on Wednesday, general secretary of the District Congress Committee S.G Khongiong predicted that the Congress will emerge as the single largest party in the State in the 2018 Assembly elections.
Criticising the local MLA and suspended Congress member P.N Syiem, Khongiong said, “The Congress is not a bad party but it is the individual which is bad as the people have not chosen the perfect representative.”
He maintained that till date, the founding principles of the party are to eliminate poverty, illiteracy and diseases.
Referring to BJP, Khongiong alleged that the party did not stay true to its words as its actions are “completely opposite to the promises it made to the people”.
“The BJP will not be able to open its account in Meghalaya,” he added.
Hinting that Syiem is the brain behind the People’s Democratic Front (PDF), he said, “The MLA (of Mawsynram) intends to float a new regional party.”
Again, pointing to the ‘mushrooming’ of regional parties in the State, he questioned as to whether the regional parties will ever unite. According to him, regional parties can never remain united.
Asserting that some regional parties will sink into oblivion, he said, “I respect regional parties but as members of the Congress party, we should be united.”
Khongiong said, “People should not be misled. They should elect those who are mature and learned.”
Meanwhile, Mawsynram delegate to the Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC), Kensing Lynshiang, said, “Your MLA (P.N Syiem) was instrumental in forming the People’s Democratic Front (PDF) and has already joined hands with BJP.”
He was referring to BJP MDC Neil Antonio War who joined BJP after resigning from the Congress following Syiem’s suspension from the Congress.
He asserted that if people elect PDF and other regional parties it will easily pave the way for BJP to come to power in Meghalaya.
“Pressing the regional party button will only help the BJP,” he said.
He denounced BJP over ban on cow slaughter, alleged harassment of minority communities, discrimination against Christians, and observation of Good Governance Day and Digital Day on sacred days of Christians.
Cong gains 2 members in Mawsynram
Meanwhile, the Congress gained two members in Mawsynram on Wednesday, a day after losing 20 members in Nongpoh.
The Mawsynram Block Congress Committee welcomed Suly Lyngdoh and Batskhem Marbaniang in the party fold at a function organised in Mawsynram.
Lyngdoh contested the 2013 Assembly elections as an Independent candidate from Mawsynram constituency and secured 4,500 votes. He again contested in the district council election in 2014 on an NPP ticket and secured 6,400 votes.
Marbaniang contested the 2014 Council election on a UDP ticket and secured 2,800 votes.
Marbaniang targeted suspended Congress member P.N Syiem saying he indulges in propaganda and not development politics. He also called for strengthening the party in Mawsynram, which is a “backward” area.
Meanwhile, Lyngdoh was elected as secretary of the district party committee and Marbaniang as working president of the Mawsynram unit.
