SHILLONG, March 29: State Congress chief, Vincent H Pala on Tuesday hit back at former party MLAs and MDCs, who quit the grand old party to seek green pastures elsewhere, saying that they had lost the right to tell him to accept moral responsibility for the exodus of elected leaders and workers.
“I would have happily stepped down if the party MLAs and MDCs had asked me. But now telling me to accept moral responsibility for the exodus when they are no longer associated with the party is unacceptable. I am not a coward to step down and I will work hard to rebuild the party,” Pala told The Shillong Times on Tuesday.
The MPCC chief also claimed that MLAs and MDCs quit the party for the sake of money.
“Many MLAs who faced financial problems earlier are now distributing money to the people. From where has this money come?” he questioned.
Asserting that he will come back strongly in spite of the setbacks suffered by the party in the last few months, Pala said his primary role as Congress president was to strengthen the party’s base and they have enough time to do so. “We are setting a target that by the end of June we will be able to reestablish our bases in all the 60 constituencies. We will put up good candidates in all the constituencies. Winning or losing is a separate issue. We are not only looking at 2023 but also preparing for the 2028 polls,” the State Congress chief said.
Reacting to the statement of Rambrai-Jyrngam MDC, Bajop Pyngrope that there are no takers for the Congress ticket, he said MLAs and MDCs are not the only leaders in a party.
“The strength of a party depends on its workers and supporters. It is the hard work of the party workers which helps MLAs and MDCs to win elections,” Pala said.