Senior Congress leader DD Lapang, who quit the party at the age of 86 Senior Congress leader DD Lapang, who quit the party at the age of 86 on September 13, has no regret of leaving the party after serving it for more than 45 years. The five-time chief minister of Meghalaya had also donned the role of president of Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee and chairman of North East Congress Co-ordination Committee. Lapang reiterated that there was no question of going back to the Congress. He spoke to The Shillong Times at his residence at Lachumiere on Tuesday evening.
ST: What made you take such a drastic step?
Lapang: I served the Congress for more than 45 years. I had the privilege of working under leaders like Indira Gandhi, Narasimha Rao, Rajiv Gandhi, Manmohan Singh. For many years, I worked under Sonia Gandhi who always encouraged me and gave guidance. Because of her, I stuck with the party. But after Rahul Gandhi took over the leadership, I could see his style of functioning. He does not have the heart of getting people together and binding them with the thread of affection. A leader needs diplomacy, strategy and maturity and an element of humility should be demonstrated. These qualities are found wanting in the present AICC leadership as the policy of pushing out the senior and elder leaders has become the order of the day by giving access to young ones, which is a bad idea. I like young people who are future of the nation but the blanket policy of keeping senior leaders out is not good and this is not liked by senior people.
ST: What is the future of the Congress both in the state and at the Centre?
Lapang: It is a very challenging time for the Congress. Leaders in the state are deserting the party. Congress is a respected party as it was instrumental in achieving the freedom of the nation. But now the Congress leadership is questioned due to mishandling of the situation. Rahul Gandhi is not a PM material. The leadership qualities of Nehru, Indira Gandhi are lacking in new leadership. Priyanka Gandhi is not able to take up leadership due to family problem. Congress has neglected the North East, especially Meghalaya. I was never in the CWC or other central committees.
ST: Was it not too late for you to resign from the Congress?
Lapang: There is nothing late in politics and politics has no age. The situation demanded that I should leave the Congress party. Even if I serve for just a few months, I will be happy.
AICC should understand clearly that politicians do not have any retirement age or rather politicians do not retire. Even at the age of 95, a person is capable of becoming the chief minister. There are instances of politicians leading the state very well from wheelchair.
Having seen Janardan Tiwari, Kamal Nath, Sushil Kumar Shinde, Digvijay Singh, Ambika Soni and Oscar Fernandes being sidelined due to the current policy of the AICC president giving preference to young leaders, I decided to opt out of the party.
ST: What exactly transpired in your meeting with Rahul Gandhi? How many times have you met him in the past?
Lapang: Rahul Gandhi is a busy man. There is not much time for him to hold discussions. Last time, I met him in Delhi prior to the Assembly elections. I was holding the post of MPCC president then. He asked me to step down. The sad thing was that before I reached Shillong, the notification was out regarding the appointment of the new MPCC president (Celestine Lyngdoh). I had pleaded before the AICC president to allow me to remain till the Assembly elections are over as the works to ensure the victory of the Congress party in Meghalaya had already begun. I tried my best to bring good results and worked round the clock. Rahul told me this was part of replacing the elderly people. As a disciplined soldier of the party, I was willing to adhere to his order, but since the polling day was approaching, I requested him to allow me to continue. But Rahul told me that ‘Dr Lapang, you have to agree with the policy of accommodating the young leaders’.
ST: Was it easy to take such an important decision?
Lapang: The spirit of serving the people is burning inside me. I cannot be silent to the current policy of Rahul Gandhi. After serving the Congress for long, I feel every much frustrated and the mind to be in the Congress has diminished. Hence I took this step to come out of the party. The plan to resign from the party was since I was dropped from the post of MPCC president. But I thought for long and waited for an opportune moment. But I must continue to serve.
After I decided to quit, Sonia, Rahul, Mukul and Pala wanted me back. I have done proper scrutiny I will not change my mind. I hope for the best and prepare for the worst.
I will cooperate with all my friends and NGOs. Having hailed from a downtrodden family, the love for the poor has gone into my veins. I want to carry on with the service to people till the end of my life.
ST: You said state leaders are also responsible. Who are these persons?
Lapang: Dr Mukul could not bind people together. Many leaders like PN Syiem, Prestone and Sniawbhalang ran away from the party citing leadership failure. However, I worked with the CLP leader. I don’t want to say much. For whatever happened, we are collectively responsible.
ST: Are you planning to join NPP?
Lapang: I have no plan now. I have to consult my people and consultations are on. I did not even tell my Nongpoh MLA Mayralborn Syiem about my decision to come out of the party. On September 12, there was a District Congress Committee meeting in Nongpoh. On September 13, I came to Delhi and submitted my resignation letter. It was a shock to the Nongpoh MLA. I did not inform anyone since I did not want people to canvass for me to come back to Congress.
ST: What made you not to contest the February 27 Assembly polls? You recently said the AICC forced you not to contest.
Lapang: I have seen the style of AICC. Old and white haired people are not welcome and they have become a liability for the AICC. I thought that after the elections, situation will be worse. Hence, I put a young man to contest from Nongpoh.
ST: What was the reason for your removal as MPCC president prior to the Assembly polls?
Lapang: They (AICC) know the best. I was doing very well as MPCC president. We were sure to get maximum seats. My plea to allow me for some more days went in vain. I do not understand what was the emergency to remove me?
ST: What about the state leadership? Is Mukul Sangma the cause of exodus of Congress MLAs to other parties?
Lapang: There have been some anti-Mukul talks. He is the best man to judge himself. I never said he should be removed. I blame the AICC for the situation.
ST: AICC had not listened to the various grievances of state MLAs in the past resulting in many leaders leaving the party before the polls. Do you think AICC is not pro-active?
Lapang: Yes, they are not pro-active. When many Congress MLAs like PN Syiem left, the AICC was a silent spectator and the situation deteriorated. I don’t know when the AICC will wake up.
ST: What is the real problem plaguing the AICC?
Lapang: AICC is no longer a collective leadership. The sentiments of many senior members are affected. A true leader should have the qualities like maturity. However, Sonia Gandhi was different. She was very motherly but she is now helpless since the power is in the hands of somebody and she is not in good health condition.
