Pyngrope ends debate: TMC MLAs not to rejoin Congress

SHILLONG, July 5: Meghalaya TMC president Charles Pyngrope on Friday sought to end all speculations about TMC MLAs rejoining the Congress, saying that there is no indication of any such move.
He also dismissed reports about a meeting being convened in this regard at the house of one of the TMC leaders recently, and stated that he was not aware of any such meeting.
He also made it clear that as TMC president he has not received any feelers from any other political parties for him or his MLAs to jump ship.
On the narrative that the TMC as a party has sunk in Meghalaya, he said, “We are not gone. We will revive. It is definitely an uphill task but we are working towards it.”
He said efforts were on to get the party to grow to a much larger extent in the state so as to increase its vote share in future polls.
Talking about the upcoming Gambegre bypoll, he said the party is yet to discuss about putting up a candidate from there.
Speaking about the demand for the opposition leader’s post in the Assembly, Pyngrope said, “If you do not fulfil the constitutional requirement which is one-tenth of the strength of the House then there is no rule binding upon the Speaker. He is free to decide on his own.”
Asked if the TMC will write to Assembly Speaker Thomas A Sangma demanding the opposition leader’s post, Pyngrope said he would leave it to the wisdom of the Speaker.