SHILLONG, Nov 17: The Meghalaya Congress has seen a remarkable decline from a high of 20 legislators in 2018 to zero ahead of the 2023 Assembly elections, but State Congress chief Vincent H Pala is confident that the party deserters would one day regret their decision.
The Congress, which had won 20 seats in 2018 and emerged as the single largest party, has suffered a string of setbacks since then.
Three sitting MLAs lost their lives including Clement Marak (Selsella) in 2018 and David A Nongrum (Mawryngkneng) and Azad Zaman (Rajabala) in 2021.
Twelve of the remaining 17 MLAs, led by Mukul Sangma and Charles Pyngrope had jumped ship in November last year to wear Trinamool Congress colours. The remaining five – all of them suspended by the party – are all set to join other political parties such as the United Democratic Party and the National People’s Party. Ampareen Lyngdoh (East Shillong), Mayralborn Syiem (Nongpoh), Mohendro Rapsang (West Shillong), Kimfa S Marbaniang (Rambrai-Jyrngam) and PT Sawkmie (Mawlai) were suspended for supporting the NPP-led MDA Government.
“Those who left the party would become desperate and regret because betraying people is not easy. After using the platform of the Congress, you go to other parties because you think you can win with money but people look for transparency, safety and development before taking their call,” Pala said on Thursday.
“Congress is a tree with many branches and some MLAs may have left us but our foundation is still strong,” Pala said, adding the departure of these leaders does not mean it is the end of the Congress.
The Congress, which had emerged as the single largest party in the last two Assembly elections in the state, is battling for survival. Given its struggle, some parties are trying hard to fill the void.
Asserting that all old practices of the Congress disappeared with the desertion of the old leaders, Pala claimed the party is now free from corrupt politicians and has fresh faces with a clean image.
The Congress has got candidates for almost all the 60 seats. Their names would be forwarded to the party’s election committee and eventually, announced by the central leadership, possibly after the poll schedule is announced by the Election Commission.
Shifting his attention to the “vehicle scam”, Pala insisted that the ongoing inquiry into the case vis-à-vis alleged corruption in the Police department should be conducted at a much broader level to ensure that those responsible for the misdeeds are brought to book.
He claimed there is corruption not only in the Police department but across departments. “The vehicle scam is just the tip of the iceberg,” he said.
Stating that many heads would roll if the probe is conducted at a broader level, Pala asked as to where the money allegedly collected from coal and check gates has gone.
