SHILLONG, Sep 9: Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) president, Vincent H. Pala has hit back at the United Democratic Party by stating that it is slowly losing its ideology with the entry of corrupt and rich politicians.
He said UDP veterans like Bindo Mathew Lanong and Jemino Mawthoh are slowly losing their face within the party.
“We always admire the honesty of the past tall leaders of the UDP. He (Bindo Lanong) is among the tall leader of the party who is honest and who has remained loyal to the UDP,” Pala said.
The newly-appointed MPCC president said the frustration among the “original leaders” of the UDP reflected in the statement of some leaders of the regional party that three-and-a-half years out of power has made Congress desperate.
“I am aware that many of the original UDP leaders are not happy since the rich and corrupt are now dominating the party. The UDP in no time will become a business party,” Pala said.
Recalling that tall leaders like Chief Minister, Donkupar Roy and Mihsalan Suchiang from Jaintia Hills had remained with UDP despite all odds, he said their sons have been left high and dry by the current crop of the party’s leaders.
“The son of the late Dr. Roy, Balajied Kupar Synrem is a mere MLA, overshadowed by the rich and corrupt politicians of the party,” Pala said.
According to him, the present UDP leadership wants to bring more and more business people into the party and sideline the original leaders. “Mawthoh and Lanong commented against Congress to give vent to their frustration for being sidelined in the party,” Pala said, pointing out that the UDP leaders calling the shots now are from Congress.
He said the UDP should be more concerned about setting their own house in order than focussing on Congress.
“The UDP has still not resolved the issue of the Home portfolio,” the MPCC chief said.
“While (UDP president) Metbah Lyngdoh claimed Home is no longer with the UDP, the Chief Minister said Lakhmen Rymbui is still the Home Minister. Students will be confused if asked a question about who the Home Minister of Meghalaya is,” he said.
Pala said Congress is a big family and differences among its members is nothing unusual.
“But I confidently say there is no division within Congress. We are united to ensure that the party grows from strength to strength,” he said.
He reminded the UDP leadership that Congress was out of power earlier too.
“We sat in the opposition even in the past. Personally, I am in the opposition for the past eight years,” he said, adding it will be wrong to say “we are frustrated” with being out of power.
“I think the intelligence-gathering of the UDP on Congress has again failed them. We know that they had failed in gathering intelligence while raiding the residence of former HNLC leader Cheristerfield Thangkhiew,” Pala said.
Meanwhile, senior Congress leader, Ampareen Lyngdoh expressed surprise over the UDP leaders’ reaction to the resolution moved by the party for removal of Assembly Speaker, Metbah Lyngdoh.
“This is not the first time a no-confidence motion has been moved against the Speaker. The UDP had backed a similar resolution brought by James PK Sangma (who was then in the Opposition) to remove then Assembly Speaker, Abu Taher Mondal,” Lyngdoh recalled.
Pointing out that many Assembly Speakers in the past had faced no-trust motions, she questioned why the UDP is saying that the Congress has done the wrong thing by moving this resolution.
“We have our reasons for moving this resolution. We will submit our stand to justify our decision of moving the resolution asking the Speaker to vacate his office,” the senior Congress leader said.
