Cong to stay intact despite ex-CM’s exit

SHILLONG: After the resignation of DD Lapang, a prominent Congress leader, the Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee president Celestine Lyngdoh said the party was united and there was no question of any more Congress member or MLA quitting.
Speaking to The Shillong Times, Lyngdoh said on Sunday that the party is reaching out to the MLAs and party members to ensure unity.
“We are all united and we are committed to work hard to strengthen the party,” he said.
During the recent visit of AICC leader in-charge Meghalaya Luizinho Faleiro to Shillong, the need to ensure unity in the party was discussed.
Celestine said there will be several meetings at block, district and state levels as part of strengthening the party as advised by the AICC leader.
To a query, the state party chief termed media reports of a few Congress MLAs leaving the party as rumours.
He also said the exit of Congress leader like Lapang will not affect the prospects of the party ahead of the district council and the Lok Sabha polls.
“There are ups and downs in the party and the Congress has withstood the difficult times,” he said.
To a query whether there was any temptation to leave the party, Celestine, who was with UDP in the past, said, “Earlier I was with a different party but after joining the Congress, I will ever remain with the party.”
Celestine said Lapang did not pick up his calls despite several attempts.