SHILLONG, April 29: The decision of the All India Congress Committee (AICC) to suspend its five remaining MLAs in Meghalaya for a period of three years is unlikely to have any effect on the legislators who have already set out to seek greener pastures.
The suspension order has cleared the hurdles for Ampareen Lyngdoh, PT Sawkmie, Mayralborn Syiem, Mohendro Rapsang and Kimfa Marbaniang who are now set to join other political parties to further their political careers.
The Congress high command had suspended them in February for anti-party activities after they extended support to the NPP-led MDA government which has the BJP as one of its constituents. A fresh order was issued on Wednesday, suspending them for a period of three years but the five MLAs are yet to receive the order.
Sawkmie, who represents Mawlai constituency, has already taken the lead by announcing that he will join the United Democratic Party (UDP). While the other four are yet to lay their cards bare, those with political knowhow are more of less certain about which camps they will join.
Suspended Congress Legislature Party leader, Ampareen Lyngdoh has made it clear that they will wait and watch the development unfolding in the days to come. She asserted that they were in no hurry to quit the party since the AICC itself was not in a hurry to expel them.
The East Shillong legislator was, however, clear about one thing. If the INC denies them tickets for the upcoming elections in the next two years they would have to take a call on their political future.
“If we are out of their radar, we will obviously have to take a call on what to do next,” she said.
Reposing faith in her voters and supporters, Lyngdoh said if they want her to contest elections, no party will have the authority to tell her not to do so.
Declining to reveal any of her plans, she said that she was consolidating her next move.
West Shillong legislator, Mohendro Rapsang observed that the Congress has left him out on the street to fend for himself.
“I have to go to my voters and ask them what to do since the Congress has left me on the streets. My people will direct me on which party to join and I will listen to the majority,” Rapsang said.
Even though he did not make it apparent, Rapsang pointed out that joining the BJP or the UDP was not an option for him since BJP will field Ernest Mawrie while the latter will put up Paul Lyngdoh from West Shillong in the assembly polls.
Incidentally, Rapsang did not comment on the ruling NPP.
Nongpoh MLA, Mayralborn Syiem echoed Ampareen and Rapsang and asserted that the electorate will decide his political future.
“Who am I to decide? It is the people who will tell me where to go,” Syiem said.
He expressed surprise over the three-year suspension order, saying that he had been suspended on February 14.
“I don’t know which of the two suspension orders is valid,” he said, while adding that he was yet to receive the order from the Congress.