SHILLONG: The legislators who had not taken Congress tickets are likely to decide their future course of action this month.
There are varied reasons why the Congress legislators did not take the forms to apply for party ticket.
When contacted, KHADC CEM and Congress legislator from Mawsynram PN Syiem said, “How can I apply for party ticket when the same Congress had suspended me.”
Syiem was not served any showcause notice before the party suspended him unlike former Congress Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar.
Syiem was suspended for criticising the style and functioning of the chief minister and the government.
He was also critical of the manner in which the government hurriedly passed the dual post bill that prevented MDCs from holding the post of MLAs.
Congress legislator Prestone Tynsong, who also did not take the application form, said he would decide the future course of action shortly.
Tynsong did not resort to any open criticism against the chief minister or the MPCC president.
The only comment which he made was that the CLP leader will be decided by party MLAs after the election and not as suggested in the past by MPYC president Richard Marak.
He also added that consultations with his supporters were on before taking a final decision on shifting allegiance.
On the other hand, veteran Congress leader Rowell Lyngdoh is unhappy over the Congress leadership neglecting him.
“I was instrumental, with the support of others, in strengthening the Congress in the entire West Khasi Hills for the last several years,” said Lyngdoh, who represents Mawkyrwat.
Rowell made it clear that if AICC had changed the leadership in 2015-16 when there was a demand to remove Mukul Sangma, this would have brought the desired results in the 2018 polls.
Several members from Mawkyrwat Block Congress Committee joined NPP recently led by former
) Congress vice president of the block Diverland Lyngdoh. Rowell said he would decide whether to contest the polls by holding further discussions with his supporters. As far as Congress legislators Sniawbhalang and Ngaitlang Dhar are concerned, the party did not like these legislators to field their own relatives in the 2018 polls.
The brother-in-law of Sniawbhalang, W. Shylla, is keen to contest from Jowai, currently represented by deputy chief minister RC Laloo, while Ngaitlang’s son D. Lamare is preparing to contest from Mawhati.
However, Dhar brothers had maintained that there was nothing wrong in applying for party tickets and that it was up to the Congress leadership to finally decide on the matter.
The final decision to not get the Congress application forms was taken by the duo after Sniawbhalang was dropped from the Cabinet.