History, ‘dynamic’ state politics keep Cong hopes alive

SHILLONG: The state Congress continues to wait for a reply to its proposal to the UDP to form the Executive Committee (EC) in the KHADC together resting its hope in the council’s history where change has been a constant, and in the belief that politics is “dynamic.”
In the meantime, though, the UDP has gone ahead and bagged the post of the CEM in alliance with other parties.
But if worst comes to worst, and the proposal is turned down, the Congress would be ready to sit in the opposition, leaders told reporters here on Monday.
They held a meeting on Monday to discuss the developments in the KHADC. Among them were MP Vincent Pala, East Khasi Hills District president, Kennedy Khyriem, general secretary of Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC), Himalaya Shangpliang, MPCC working president James Lyngdoh and four newly-elected MDCs.
Referring to reports on UDP preferring to work with NPP and extending the MDA alliance to the KHADC, Shangpliang told reporters on Monday afternoon, “We are still waiting for their answer. Our offer is still open to them.”
Stating that politics is “dynamic”, Pala said the situation might change in the evening and Congress is ready to extend support if any party seeks it.
He said the Congress has reached out to other parties to form the EC in the KHADC, but the MDA allies prefer to work together in the council as well.
Congress emerged as the single largest party in the KHADC winning 10 seats. On Saturday, Congress leaders approached the UDP president, Donkupar Roy, in the hope of stitching an alliance with the party which has won 6 seats.
Shangpliang and Khyriem met the UDP leader after the results were declared.
Shangpliang said the Congress had offered to stitch a two-party Executive Committee (EC) with the UDP. However, Roy maintained the party members’ views would have to be taken into account for such a move.
He said he also spoke to general secretary Jemino Mawthoh and working president Paul Lyngdoh, who said they would see how the Congress and UDP combination could work.
The Congress is also not averse to sitting in the opposition in the KHADC following the people’s verdict.
“Our number of 10 is still less, we need another 6 at least. Looking at the mandate of the people, we will be an effective opposition,” Pala said.
Addressing the press, newly elected Congress Parliamentary Party (PP) secretary Grace Mary Kharpuri said, “We have decided to sit in the opposition. We will be a strong opposition”.
Asked about the contentious issue of defection of MDCs with the anti-defection bill not implemented in district councils, Pala said, “Only time will tell.”
Kharpuri said, “We are united and all of us are intact.”