SHILLONG, Feb 8: The decision of the five Congress MLAs to join the National People’s Party-led government did not have the sanction of either the All India Congress Committee (AICC) or the Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC).
The MLAs maintained that they do not need any approval from the AICC or the MPCC on such a matter.
One of them, PT Sawkmie, claimed they have every right to take a decision on a matter if it involves the interest of the state and the people.
“This is an issue confined to the CLP (Congress Legislature Party) and we don’t need to take permission from the MPCC president or the AICC,” Sawkmie said.
He said although they have joined the MDA, they will continue to be in the Congress. The question of merger or defection to any other party does not arise now, he said.
MPCC working president, Deborah Marak said the move of the party MLAs did not have the approval of either the MPCC or the AICC.
“The MPCC cannot give approval on such matters. It is only with the approval of the AICC that they can work with the government,” Marak said.
She said the MPCC will send a report to the AICC and wait for its instructions. The MDA is working with the BJP but the policies and ideologies of the BJP and the Congress are completely different, she said.
“We don’t know how they agreed to support the government. We had no idea about their move,” she said.
Pynshngainlang N Syiem, who is another MPCC working president, disapproved of the party MLAs’ move.
“It’s a wrong move. We need to understand that the BJP is also a part of the government. Approval from the AICC and the MPCC is necessary before the CLP decides to support any government,” Syiem said.
Stating that the decision will be questioned by people, he said the Congress can never work together with a non-secular force like the BJP.
He said the MPCC will meet to discuss the issue. “We are taking this matter very seriously,” he said.
At the same time however, he said the MLAs cannot be prevented from leaving the party.
According to him, the trend of defection by MLAs ahead of next year’s Assembly elections will not be restricted only to the Congress.
Many party leaders are said to be not happy over Pala’s decision to offer tickets left and right but Syiem said this is the observation of only a few.
“The decision on party ticket will not be taken by any individual alone. It will be a collective decision of the MPCC and the AICC. No one can dictate who should be given a party ticket,” he said.
On reports that many party MDCs in the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council are planning to leave the Congress, Syiem said he is not aware if any MDC, other than Fantin Joseph Lakadong, is planning to quit.