By Divesh Ranjan

In Meghalaya’s once Congress-dominated political landscape, change began quietly in 2012 with the formation of the National People’s Party (NPP). Initially dismissed, the NPP won just two seats in 2013, and its leader, Conrad Sangma, lost his own. But fate intervened—his father P.A. Sangma’s untimely death in 2016 propelled Conrad into Parliament and reignited his political ascent. This marked the beginning of the NPP’s rise, coinciding with the slow, steady decline of the Indian National Congress—ironically, alongside Vincent Pala’s growing influence within Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Party.
Despite national trends favoring the BJP, Dr. Mukul Sangma kept the INC afloat in Meghalaya between 2013 and 2018, governing effectively with limited central support. However, internal rifts deepened; AICC’s strategic lapses surfaced, and Vincent Pala’s rising influence quietly eroded Mukul’s authority—setting the stage for a political unraveling.The NPP capitalized on Congress’s internal cracks, while the BJP chipped away from the outside, pushing its “Congress Mukth Bharat” narrative. Toppling such a dominant force demanded both external pressure and internal betrayal—something the INC failed to prevent. As loyalty waned and missteps piled up, the AICC’s inertia sealed the party’s decline.
Leadership Blunders and Internal Power Struggles —
The Indian National Congress (INC) suffered its first major setback in Meghalaya in December 2017, when five senior leaders defected to the National People’s Party (NPP) just before the 2018 Assembly Elections. In a knee-jerk response, Congress removed Dr. D.D. Lapang as state president—its first major blunder. Leader defections before elections were not surprising, especially after the BJP’s rise at the Centre. But Congress mishandled it by abruptly replacing Dr. D.D. Lapang instead of planning a gradual transition. Misled by flawed advice, the party underestimated the influence of the five-time Chief Minister—an error that significantly weakened its position.
Had Dr. D.D. Lapang stayed as state president, Congress might have gained more seats and formed the government in 2018. His removal, orchestrated without consultation, fractured party unity. Dr Celestine Lyngdoh, who replaced him, lost his own seat by just 70 votes—a loss many attribute to the leadership change. Officially, Lapang was removed due to age and health, but insiders saw it as a power play orchestrated by Vincent Pala, then-MP, to sideline both Lapang and Dr. Mukul Sangma. Internal factions opposed to Mukul further weakened Congress, denying it the chance to form the government despite winning the most seats. After Lapang’s exit, Dr. Celestine maintained party unity, but Vincent Pala’s influence steadily grew. Celestine’s endorsement of Pala as his successor cemented Pala’s control. In 2021, Pala officially replaced Celestine as state president, sidelining senior leaders like Charles Pyngrope, who was prepared to lead. This decision triggered internal dissent and led to the defection of 12 Congress MLAs—marking the party’s second major blow.
Ironically, even Pala’s former loyalists, like Kennedy Khyriem and Dr. Celestine, eventually joined NPP, reinforcing the belief that his leadership weakened Congress. Meanwhile, Conrad Sangma knew his path to a second term hinged on Dr. Mukul Sangma leaving the party—and that’s exactly what happened.
Meghalaya Congress Under Vincent Pala: Under Vincent Pala’s leadership, the Congress in Meghalaya has faced deep internal strife and major defections—all 17 leaders left before the 2023 Assembly Elections. Despite these setbacks, the INC managed to secure 5 seats in the elections, largely due to its core ideological vote bank and anti-incumbency against NPP. In the 2024 General Elections, the INC’s win in Tura was largely due to public backlash against the NPP-BJP alliance in Manipur. However, these wins were isolated, as internal cracks deepened and a few months before the district council elections three MLAs, including key leader figures like Dr. Celestine, once loyalists of Pala, eventually defected to the NPP, further weakening the party. A major blow came when the Congress supported the NPP in the District Council—a move widely seen as a betrayal of its ideology. This blurred the lines between the INC and NPP, alienating voters and eroding the party’s credibility. The District Council episode marked the third major setback, severely damaging the party’s presence in the state.
Vincent Pala’s 2024 Lok Sabha defeat exposed his failure to build grassroots support or a strong party machinery. Unlike 2019, his vote share collapsed—only 1.99 lakh votes with a staggering 35.8% loss margin. This came on the heels of his 2023 Assembly Election loss, deepening the blow to his leadership. A key flaw in Vincent Pala’s leadership has been his failure to emerge as a credible opposition voice. His inconsistent stance—shifting between praise, silence, and criticism—has left even party workers uncertain. During the crucial District Council vote count, when Congress’s decline in the Khasi Hills became clear, Pala was notably absent from the state. His failure to lead, boost morale, or chart a path forward highlighted a serious lack of accountability at a critical time. Interestingly, Pala’s political trajectory has mirrored the NPP’s—his rise aligning with its growth, and his recent decline matching the party’s setbacks amid anti-incumbency in the general election. Pala’s earlier wins owed more to Congress’s strong grassroots network than his own leadership. As the party’s base eroded in Meghalaya, so did his support. His failure to rebuild the organization and lead decisively has deepened Congress’s decline. Now, after a crushing defeat, both his and the party’s future hang in the balance unless a major course correction follows.
Time for Accountability: For Congress to regain relevance, Vincent Pala must take responsibility for the party’s decline and step aside. Just as Rahul Gandhi resigned after the 2019GE loss to uphold accountability, Pala must do the same. His continued deflection of blame has eroded trust, discouraging capable leaders from stepping up. Without a leadership change, any real revival of the party remains unlikely.
A System of Influence Over Merit: The AICC faces growing criticism over Congress’s decline under Vincent Pala. The key question: should leadership be judged by proximity to central leaders or by results? In contrast, parties like the NPP and VPP are led by credible, widely respected figures like Conrad Sangma and Ardent Basaiawmoit. Meanwhile, Congress continues to rely on businessmen over credible, ideological leaders—weakening its foundation. True leadership demands vision, integrity, and unity, not personal gain. Congress must shift focus from connections to competence, to rebuild itself as a serious alternative to the government.
Sleeper Cells – A Silent Threat Within Congress: Amid rising concerns, there’s growing speculation that sleeper cells within Congress are working to weaken the party from within, particularly in Meghalaya. These hidden elements, possibly aligned with rival forces, are eroding the party’s foundation. To counter this, leadership must thoroughly review the actions and loyalties of key figures. The real issue lies in the central leadership’s disconnect from ground realities. If rival parties like BJP and NPP have indeed infiltrated Congress, urgent action is needed to expose and neutralize these threats.
The Meghalaya Congress must also accept that the worst has already happened. Any further exits should be seen not as losses, but as chances to rebuild. Now is the moment for bold, fearless decisions and a fresh start. Revival depends on strong leadership and deep grassroots engagement. The party’s future lies in empowering workers with a clear, inspiring vision that restores confidence and drives collective commitment.
(The author is Political Advisor & Strategist:Email [email protected])