SHILLONG: As many as eight sitting legislators on Meghalaya including five from the Congress on Friday resigned to pave their way to join the National People’s Party early next month.
The eight legislators, include Siawbhalang Dhar (Nartiang LAC), Comingone Ymbon (Raliang LAC), Hopeful Bamon (Sutnga Saipung LAC), Stephanson Mukhim (Amlarem LAC), Prestone Tynsong (Pynursula LAC), Remington Pyngrope (Mawkynriew LAC), Rowell Lyngdoh (Mawkyrwat LAC) and Ngaitlang Dhar (Umroi LAC).
The legislators on Friday morning submitted their resignation letter to the Meghalaya Assembly Secretary, Andrew Simon at Legislative Assembly Speaker’s chamber.
Speaking to media persons after submitting their resignation, Prestone Tynsong said that though he was originally from Congress party, he had decided to leave party since leadership in the state had failed and there was no aspirations.
He also denied the allegations that he left the party after being dropped from cabinet earlier in the year saying they left the party due to the style of functioning of the Chief Minister, Mukul Sangma.
“ Even in Cabinet meetings, he never consulted anyone and he does everything alone without any consultation and this is not the way to function,” he said.
According to Tynsong, the instances of ignoring others in the party is happening since last 3-4 years
Tynsong while appreciating Chief Minister, Mukul Sangma on certain points, recalled that he had asked Chief Minister, to go slow on the issue of dual post bill and take suggestions from Election Commission but his suggestion was ignored.
“He ( Mukul Sangma) said they have to do it… see at the end, where we landed and we became a laughing stock,” Tynsong told reporters , adding that the decision was taken hurriedly
According to Tynsong, it is the NPP which is an alternative to Congress and so they have joined the NPP even as he added that out of several MLAs of Congress, five were joining NPP, while one was going to PDF and three others were retiring.
“This has never happened in the history of Meghalaya and there will be lot of impact on Congress,” he added.
Maintaining that the NPP is trying to get more than 31 seats in the upcoming polls, he also alleged that the Pynursula Congress block was dissolved without even informing him.
Tynsong said that they had taken up the matter of changing the leadership at least 4-5 times with the AICC leaders including Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi but till date, they had not received any response from the Congress headquarters.
“Not less than 45 times we took up the matter with AICC and Gandhis. I told them, if possible, why don’t you change the leadership in the state,” he saod.
Expressing confidence that the party will secure atleast 18 seats in the Khasi Hills region, Tynsong denied the allegations that NPP was a team B of BJP saying NPP has its own ideology, constitution and even it will have its own manifesto.
“They are trying to create confusion in the minds of the voters, he said
When asked if he is ready to be the Chief Minister, Tynsong said that the matter depended on the MLAs and if elected MLAs have faith on him, he would have to take the responsibility.
Another veteran Congress leader, Rowell Lyngdoh who resigned from the post of MLA said that he had never thought of leaving the Congress since he was working for Congress from a very long time even as he added that right from the year 2015-16, Congress party in the state was splitting and there were disturbances among the leaders.
“There was ill treatment against me and my constituency, so I left,” he said.
Asserting that he respects MPCC president, DD Lapang, Lyngdoh, however, said that DD Lapang believed in whatever people said to him and Lapang took action against him without understanding the party leaders.
Responding to a query about the rumblings within the party, Rowell said that he was always neutral and he never supported anybody but he was ‘kicked out’ and he was ignored by the party leadership.
He also admitted that DD Lapang backtracked somewhere and this was the reason, most of the MLAs had left Congress.
When asked about his grievances with the Chief Minister, the senior leader said that Mukul Sangma decided to set up a Government medical college in Garo Hills whereas in the State capital., he is setting up a medical college on a PPP mode.
When asked if he is an opportunist, Lyngdoh said they would have to get opportunity to serve their people and they were public representatives who wants to develop the states
He also denied the allegation that he was joining NPP to get top post of Chief Minister and Cabinet Minister saying he only wants to become an MLA.
According to Lyngdoh, in the year 2016, he had written a short letter to the AICC president saying Congress would go down in Meghalaya if there was no change in leadership.
Sniawbhalang Dhar, who was PWD ( Roads) minister said that he resigned from the party as Mukul Sangma leadership had failed
“ Many of his policies failed… when we tried giving our suggestion, he never listen to us,” he said.
The eight legislators are set to join NPP in a public rally supposed to be held on January 4 in Polo ground.