By Our Reporter
Shillong, Aug 23: KHADC Deputy Chief Executive Member, PN Syiem on Friday said the party leaders will discuss the possibility of Congress withdrawing support from the NPP-led Executive Committee in the KHADC.
“We decided to work with the NPP-led Khasi Hills Democratic Front (KHDF) because of crucial issues such as the amendment of the Sixth Schedule. Moreover, important legislations passed by the council need to be followed up with the state government,” he said.
Syiem, who is also working president of the Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee, played down the need for party president Vincent H Pala to step down owing moral responsibility for the desertion of many Congress MLAs and MDCs.
“I am not denying that the party lost many MLAs and MDCs during his tenure. I think that he (Pala) needs to review what has happened. He will have to take corrective measures with the support of the party leaders,” he said.
When pointed out that many former Congress leaders are hesitant about returning to the party fold as long as Pala is the MPCC chief, Syiem said Pala does not run the affairs of the party alone. According to him, the former leaders are free to return to Congress as leaders such as working president Deborah C Marak and state party vice president Ronnie V Lyngdoh have a hand in running the party too. He also counted himself among those who run the state Congress.
Syiem said joining the NPP will not be the right move on his part given the political situation in Meghalaya.
He said a wrong move would backfire as the people are very politically aware.
“As a public leader, I will have to respect and go with the feelings of the people,” he said, adding no political party has approached him so far.