SHILLONG: Former speaker Charles Pyngrope is the latest among Congress leaders to claim that there is no crisis in the party following senior leaders’ exodus.
The senior Congress leader, who is seeking to contest from Nongthymmai constituency, told media persons on Saturday that Congress is a large party and it’s not a question of senior leaders but some individuals who are leaving the party.
“In the Congress, everybody is a leader and everybody is a worker and if somebody wants to leave the party, it’s up to them and nobody is indispensable,” Pyngrope said on the sidelines of a programme where he handed over a waste management vehicle to Lawjynriew Dorbar Shnong.
State party president DD Lapang had recently said exodus of MLAs would not affect the Congress as it had no dearth of leaders.
Pyngrope too sounded confident about the party doubling up. “Our reading is we should be able to form the next Government,” he said.
However, Congress MP Vincent Pala recently admitted that resignation of leaders like Prestone Tyngsong and Sniawbhalang Dhar would affect the party.
‘Personal gains’
The senior leader while stating that the BJP does not stand a chance in Meghalaya slammed two independent MLAs, Robinus Syngkon and Justine Dkhar, for shifting allegiance to the saffron party.
“One or two MLAs in Jaintia Hills have shifted their allegiance to BJP and they should be asked whether they have joined BJP for the benefit of the state or for their personal gains, which is detrimental for the growth of the state, but at the end it’s an individual’s choice,” he said.
On the HSPDP-UDP alliance, Pyngrope said though regional parties have strong foothold in Khasi-Jaintia Hills, nothing could be said about the alliance immediately.“The alliance should first put into order the discontent which is evident in tie-ups in different areas like Mawkynriew, Shella and Mylliem,” he added.When asked about his chances to win the elections from Nongthymmai constituency, the senior leader said it was for the people to decide what the shortcomings are in Nognthymmai constituency. “We have our own ways of working and I am happy if somebody is working for the constituency. If people want me they will take me, if they don’t want me, I will sit at home,” Pyngrope said. Earlier, Pyngrope urged local residents to use the vehicle to dump their garbage which would keep the locality clean.
