SHILLONG, Dec 19: Suspended Congress MLA Ampareen Lyngdoh on Monday said she quit the party as the recent developments in it made her believe it has lost its “sense of direction”.
She also said the Congress has lost touch with the people of the state and she thought it was not the best platform for her to serve them.
“For the most part of my life, I have been a staunch supporter and foot soldier of the Indian National Congress…However, recent developments within the party have led me to believe that it has lost its sense of direction,” Lyngdoh wrote in her resignation letter to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge.
“There has been a pressing need for the party and its leadership to reflect on this. Sincere and honest attempts to lead such self-introspection, I believe, have failed,” she further wrote.
Another suspended Congress MLA, Mohendro Rapsang, also resigned from the Assembly and the party on Monday. Later in the day, both joined the National People’s Party (NPP) at a function held at Madan Iewrynghep, Fire Brigade.
In February this year, the Congress’ central leadership had suspended all five party MLAs in Meghalaya for their alleged unilateral decision to support the NPP-led government which has the BJP as a component. The three other MLAs are Process T Sawkmie, Mayralborn Syiem and Kimfa Sidney Marbaniang.
Speculation is rife that Sawkmie and Syiem will also quit the Congress and join the United Democratic Party. The political future of Marbaniang is unclear.
After resigning, Lyngdoh told reporters she took the decision after due diligence and extensive consultations.
“The Congress has shown us the door. The party dismissed us and our opinions about our roles as stakeholders of this great democracy of this country,” she said.
According to her, the party also refused to consult or partner with them and sidelined them since February.
“We decided to officially come out of the main entrance door of the party without fear and reservation. We are now going to enter a new political forum by joining the NPP,” Lyngdoh had declared.
Stating that some people outside their constituencies might construe their decision differently, she said, “We anticipate some negative reaction but this is the beauty of our democracy.”
Talking about why the two of them joined the NPP, Lyngdoh said they were convinced that if they had to leave a national party, then they would need to consolidate their base in their constituencies by joining the homegrownnational party. “We are now looking forward to partnering with leaders from across the state. We want to convince them to let Meghalaya be one in the interest of the people post-2023 elections,” she said.
Stating that they saw several coalition governments in the past, she said, “We are convinced that the fragmentation of our support may not be good in the long run for the people of the state.”
Lyngdoh said the anti-incumbency factor should be equally shared by all constituents of the ruling coalition.
“Everybody has to take responsibility for all the confusions that arose. I disagree that the NPP should take the sins of all the errors of the last five years. I think all political parties have partnered together. Let them take equal responsibility for that mess,” Lyngdoh added.
Defending his decision to join the NPP, Rapsang said the people of his constituency have no regrets that he quit the Congress. He said there is a lot of turmoil in the Congress.
“It is for this reason that I decided to come out of the Congress and join the NPP. I want to assure that I will continue to serve the people of my constituency and the state,” he added.
