SHILLONG, Feb 10: The entry of the five Congress MLAs into the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance has taken the National People’s Party to a position of strength, but the Hill State People’s Democratic Party (HSPDP), one of the regional constituents of the Conrad Sangma-led coalition, is in no mood to give full credit to the ruling party.
HSPDP president KP Pangniang on Thursday admitted that the NPP has achieved an advantageous position but made it clear that the party cannot stand alone without the support of the regional forces. Pangniang also was categorical in asserting that none of the MLAs from any regional party will jump ship and join the NPP.
“They (NPP) need the support of the regional fronts even though we cannot deny that they have the advantage,” the HSPDP president said, while appealing to the regional parties to join hands now to lead the government in future.
Recalling that the Congress was once in power both in the Centre as well as the state and had the opportunity to persuade the MLAs from regional parties to join them, Pangniang said, “Now the regional parties are in a good position and I hope the people of the state will bestow their trust in the regional parties in the 2023 Assembly polls.”
Shifting from the latest political development to the pending issue of Inner Line Permit, Pangniang urged the state government to keep reminding the Centre of the demand for implementation of ILP in Meghalaya. “We will not keep silent and will pursue the issue until and unless the Centre takes a final call,” the HSPDP president said. “It is our duty to remind the government to discuss the issue with the Centre. We will not retreat or surrender until and unless ILP is given to our state,” he added.
Pointing out that the only word from the Centre has been that they are examining the matter, Pangniang said, “The party will remind the state government and I hope the government of the day will keep on reminding the Centre to implement ILP.”