SHILLONG: Disgruntled Congress legislator Rowell Lyngdoh on Friday taunted Mukul Sangma for his ‘turncoat’ remark and wondered aloud whether the chief minister meant “torn-coat” for old leaders in the party.
“Maybe he meant torn coat. Torn coat may mean discarded people like SC Marak, DD Lapang and me,” he said.
Sangma on Thursday blamed the “turncoats” in the Congress for destabilising the party and “dislocating momentum of growth and development in Meghalaya”.
Lyngdoh said if the Congress is destabilized the blame should be on Lapang who is currently serving as the president of the Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC).
Stating that his criticism was to correct the party, Lyngdoh said, “We want to help strengthen the party. Leaders are to carry out reforms. Till date I am loyal and I was expressing my views freely”.
The former deputy chief minister, who was removed from the cabinet last year also said, “When the CM kicked me out, I did not react. AICC should have looked into this.
The Mawkyrwat MLA alleged that Sangma has a hand in destabilising the party by dissolving the Block Congress Committees.
With September 15 being the last day to collect the application form distributed by MPCC, Lyngdoh said, “I will discuss with my supporters whether to apply for party ticket or not. However, I will remain as MLA till the end of the term.”
Lyngdoh said a young advocate, Kynpham Kharlyngdoh, wanted to collect form from the Congress party but did not get as he was asked to go to BCC. However, Garness Sohshang was able to collect the form from BCC.
79 year old Lyngdoh started his political journey with HSPDP in 1983 and left the party for the Congress in 1988 due to differences with HSPDP leader late Hoping Stone Lyngdoh.
Speaking of his political mileage, the veteran leader said in 1988, he lost the election when he contested on Congress ticket.
The veteran politician has won the elections for six terms – three each from HSPDP and the Congress.
