SHILLONG, May 20: Congress MLA, Ampareen Lyngdoh on Friday said the All India Congress Committee cannot prevent her from contesting next year’s Assembly elections with the suspension.
She said she would not want to recollect the party’s downfall in Meghalaya.
“We all had anticipated that the party will take corrective measures after the 12 MLAs defected to the AITC (All India Trinamool Congress). But, sadly, the divisive politics within the party leadership continued even after that,” Lyngdoh told reporters.
Refusing to criticise the Congress, she said, “Let the Congress decide its fate. I am going to complete my term as a Congress MLA.”
Lyngdoh hinted she has selected her new political clothing as her supporters have already told her which party she should contest from. “I am not going to divulge the details at the moment but I hope to win with the support of my people,” she said.
If anything, her relentless praise of the National People’s Party-led government is a clear indication which party she is headed to.
Even on Friday, the East Shillong legislator was effusive in her praise of the ruling dispensation for its “serious efforts” in correcting discrepancies and weaknesses in the system.
She said the government always listened to the suggestions of the Congress MLAs while they were in the Opposition.
“For the past four years, we had criticised the government. In the remaining one year, we want to give our valuable suggestions by being a part of the government,” Lyngdoh said.
According to her, the government was able to address the insecurity and confusion among students with the Centre deciding to exempt Meghalaya from CUET, 2022. She said the government was also able to positively respond to the demands of the ad hoc teachers.
Lyngdoh said when they were in the Opposition, they had pointed out the defects in the gaming legislation after it was tabled in the Assembly.
“The state government finally incorporated our suggestions in the Meghalaya Gaming Act, 2021. We had suggested that the NOCs from the Dorbar Shnong and Autonomous District Councils should be made mandatory for the gaming players to set up their venture. We had also suggested that such venture should not affect the society and the community at large,” the MLA said.
Everything will be spelt out clearly in the new gaming rules, she said. Further, she said the government is also trying to ensure the resumption of coal mining in the state.
The Supreme Court had in 2019 said if coal is extracted in accordance with the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act and the Mineral Concession Rules, 1960, the ban imposed by the National Green Tribunal will not be applicable.
Lyngdoh said the government is trying to address the issue of spiraling prices of essential commodities. She said it will also try to rectify the shoddy construction of projects.
“I won’t be able to comment on the shoddy construction of ISBT since I am yet to visit it. We need to ask what the factors are,” she said.
