SHILLONG, March 14: After the Congress’ recent poll debacle in the state, a section within has ascribed it to personality clashes leading to defection of top leaders to rival parties.
A senior Congress leader from Garo Hills pointed out the desertion of top leaders like Mukul Sangma and Himanta Biswa Sarma.
Talking to this reporter here on Tuesday, the Congressman, who wanted to be anonymous, said the Congress, which once was a powerhouse in the state, had bagged just five seats – two in Ri-Bhoi and one each in West Khasi Hills, Garo Hills and East Khasi Hills – this election.
It drew a blank in Jaintia Hills, with MPCC chief and Lok Sabha member, Vincent H. Pala tasting defeat in his home turf of Sutnga Saipung.
The leader from Garo Hills in question said the Congress fought the elections against the Congress itself.
Elaborating, the leader said stalwart Himanta Biswa Sarma in Assam had quit the Congress and joined the BJP after falling out with the then chief minister Tarun Gogoi while in Meghalaya, another top leader, Mukul Sangma deserted the Congress and joined the Trinamool Congress following differences with Vincent H. Pala.
In the process, the Congress leader said, these Congress leaders took away a major chunk of the party’s votes.
“Money also played a big part in the Congress’ poll debacle. While candidates of other parties spent crores of rupees as they went to polls, the Congress gave a meagre Rs 5 lakh each to its top candidates. Many other candidates of the party got nothing,” the politician from Garo Hills said.
The leader believes the party would regain the lost ground if its central leadership could be strengthened.
The Congress leader said that every reformation in the party will come with the strengthening of its central leadership.
Citing an example, the Congress leader said the BJP even with just two MLAs managed to become a part of a coalition government in Meghalaya for the second time in a row because of its strong leadership at the centre.
