Congress on denial mode on Danggo exit

SHILLONG: The state Congress has rejected claims that Ranikor MLA Martin M Danggo will join NPP saying all the 21 legislators of the party are intact.
Speaking to media persons here on Wednesday, Congress spokesperson Zenith Sangma said nothing is final in politics even as he added that Danggo “is a seasoned and matured politician and he cannot take a wrong decision”. “There must be some other agenda that cannot be spelled out at this moment,” he said.
The Congress leader also denied that Danggo was demanding civil sub-division for Ranikor and said the latter always wanted an administrative unit for Ranikor and it was approved immediately.
“It was the MUA government that created South West Khasi Hills district in 2012 and Ranikor area was neglected since the inception of the state… The previous government made massive investments in the area in terms of road. A 136-km road was sanctioned from Baghmara to Ranikor,” Zenith said.
Chief Minister Conrad Sangma told reporters on Wednesday that there was no political motive behind upgrading Ranikor, which was done because “people were suffering for a very long time”.
Conrad said people were happy and MLAs and Congress party workers’ willingness to join NPP was the reaction of the government’s move.
“They (Congress) have to figure out their issues and we have gone ahead with the idea to make things easy for the people and bringing the administration closer,” the chief minister added.
However, Conrad admitted that sometimes “political implications do take place, which was not the plan of the government”. He assured that it would continue to work for the people and if there are others who want to join the alliance, they are welcome.
Danggo attended and NPP meeting in Ranikor on Tuesday and asserted that he would join NPP if the alliance government upgrades Ranikor to a civil sub-division.
When asked if Danggo would be booked for anti-party activities, Zenith said the matter has to be investigated and then a conclusion could be reached.
Stating that some communication has been made to the party leadership in the block unit following the recent developments, Zenith added that it is only the District Congress Committee that can dissolve the party blocks.
Zenith also criticised NPP for lowering the Congress flag saying it was an insult to the party and all political parties must be respected.
When asked if the MLAs had rift with the party leadership in the state, Zenith said, “The leadership is decided by all the members of the Congress Legislature Party.”