SHILLONG, April 13: The All India Congress Committee (AICC) is likely to take a call on the election to the post of the Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) president after the Assembly elections in several states.
This was informed by the AICC in-charge, Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh, Manish Chatrath.
“Right now elections are going on. We will see what needs to be done once the elections are over,” Chatrath told The Shillong Times while speaking over the telephone from Delhi.
He further stated it is clear some decisions will have to be taken in this regard. “The decision will be taken at the earliest,” the AICC Meghalaya in-charge said.
The MPCC president’s position is a quest of leadership for which many top party leaders are in the fray including Shillong MP Vincent Pala, who has been the latest to enter the race.
Pala, on Tuesday, confirmed that his name has also been mentioned for the post of the MPCC chief even as he expressed reluctance in taking the position, especially in the presence of senior leaders.
“…but whatever the response is by the High Command, they (candidates), as politicians, will have to say yes and there is no doubt about that,” the Lok Sabha member said.
While stating that he considers himself a junior among other leaders, Vincent Pala said that he has never aspired to be the president of the MPCC.
“Actually, there is no denying the fact that many of the leaders told me I should be there (leading the state party), but I still think that we have very senior leaders like bah Charles (Pyngrope) who can take the job,” the MP said.
He said that Charles Pyngrope has been the favourite of most of the party legislators besides him, adding that at the end of the day it all comes down to the high command.
Asked whether there are any chances for him to accept the post, Pala said, “…as a politician, I don’t think it is wise for us to say no … whatever the response may be, we have to say yes, there’s no doubt about that”.
The Congress MP recalled, “When bah Lapang was the president, the high command had called me but I told them that for an MP to come to state is not easy because Shillong is far from Delhi and you need a man who is in Shillong and who can ensure party’s welfare. It is not easy for us”.
Enquired as to when the MPCC will get its new chief, Pala said, “The in-charge of Meghalaya has come to Shillong and I was in touch with him. He said that they will take a decision soon, expectedly after the results of the district council”.
“I don’t know what decision he will take but everybody has their own views… some of the legislators, leaders as well as office-bearers have their own views. It is the wisdom of the in-charge,” he added.
It may be mentioned that former Assembly Speaker and senior Congress legislator, Charles Pyngrope, is the front runner in the race for the MPCC chief.