Shillong, Nov 28: Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader, Charles Pyngrope said he has no idea he will be appointed the party’s state president.
“I have not received any confirmation about my appointment as the party’s state president. I am not aware of any such development,” he told The Shillong Times on Sunday.
TMC MLAs state spokesperson, Himalaya Shangpliang had told the media on Saturday that Pyngrope will be appointed the party’s state chief. He had also stated that the senior leader will be given the responsibility as many people and leaders will join the party due to his leadership quality.
Pyngrope and 11 other Congress MLAs, who joined the TMC recently, will meet party president and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee,its national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee and political strategist, Prashant Kishor in Kolkata on Monday.
Shangpliang informed that the AITC parliamentary party leader Mukul Sangma will lead the delegation of the party MLAs to Kolkata to meet the chairperson of TMC Mamata Banerjee on Monday.
According to Shangpliang, the other posts in the state unit will be filled up following the return of the MLAs. He had also stated that Mukul Sangma would be appointed the leader of Opposition.
Shangpliang said subsequently, the party will go ahead with the election of leaders at the district and block levels as a part of the preparations for the 2023 Assembly elections.
Sangma was on Friday named the TMC’s parliamentary party leader in the state. The first parliamentary party meeting, attended by all the 12 MLAs, had elected Umroi legislator George B Lyngdoh as the opposition chief whip and Shangpliang as secretary.
I am leader of my own right: Charles
Pyngrope said it will be wrong to say he followed Sangma in associating himself with the TMC.
“The people of the state know I am a leader of my own right. Dr Mukul Sangma is just part of the same team that is headed by TMC chief Mamata Banerjee,” Pyngrope said, adding he joined the party as the face of Khasi and Jaintia people.
“I am following my own conscience that I have to do something for my people and for this, I need to be part of a stronger political force like the TMC,” he said.
He was confident that he will be able to deliver better on the hopes and aspirations of the people.
“I hope my image will remain the same. Let people decide if I am clean or dirty. My determination and dedication towards the people will remain the same,” Pyngrope said.
To a query, he said, “What I am disappointed about is the inability of the Congress to hear the voices of people. I am not disappointed that I did not get the post of MPCC president,” the former Congress leader said.
According to him, this is perhaps for the first time that the MLAs and the MDCs got together to suggest that he should be appointed the state Congress chief.
“There will be disappointment among party MLAs and MDCs since the AICC did not listen to their voices which were loud and clear. But I had spoken about the need to work together for the betterment of the party,” Pyngrope said.
Asked about his earlier statement that he is too old to leave the Congress, he said this stand would have remained if he had not witnessed the disillusionment surrounding the by-elections, especially the defeat at Mawryngkneng, which was represented by his son, the late David A Nongrum.
“The subsequent events convinced me that it is futile to remain in the party which will not provide me with the platform to do greater things for the people. I have not taken this decision for my personal ambition,” Pyngrope added.
