By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Nov 3: State Congress president Vincent H. Pala has predicted that the NPP’s strategy of inducting former Congress leaders into its fold might backfire in the long run.
He claimed that it has already caused discontent among the NPP’s grassroots workers, disrupting internal balance.
He said the mass joining of former Congress leaders has led to visible unrest among loyal NPP members who worked tirelessly to strengthen the party at the grassroots level.
“Those who struggled to build the NPP’s base in constituencies once dominated by the Congress now feel neglected and overshadowed by the new entrants,” he said.
Citing examples of Umsning, Mylliem, Mawhati and Nongstoin, Pala noted that the former Congress members now dominate the NPP’s local structure due to their long experience in politics and connections with bureaucrats.
“They are politically smarter because they were in the ruling setup for years. Now, they are taking charge in their new party, leaving the loyal NPP workers sidelined,” he added.
He felt that the NPP is planting seeds of division within its ranks by ignoring the loyal workers and rewarding the defectors. “This discontent will eventually backfire,” Pala asserted.
He said the NPP’s current approach of “poaching” leaders for political convenience may yield short-term gains but will ultimately erode the party’s foundation.
He said this growing internal dissatisfaction within the NPP could translate into electoral setbacks. He pointed to the results of the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) elections, where the VPP made significant gains.
“If we look at constituencies like Mylliem, Umsning, Nongstoin, and even Laitumkhrah, the VPP managed to win or perform strongly because the supporters of both Congress and NPP shifted their support,” Pala explained.
He said in Mylliem, although former Congress MLA Ronnie V Lyngdoh had not officially joined the NPP during the KHADC polls, the electorate already anticipated his move. “That perception alone was enough for many Congress and NPP supporters to turn toward the VPP,” Pala said.
He said this internal power shift affected the distribution of contract work and government benefits. He alleged that only the relatives and close associates of the NPP legislators are receiving payments for contract works while the party workers at the grassroots level are left waiting for their dues.
“This has created a deep sense of frustration and inequality among the genuine NPP supporters,” Pala claimed.
He compared the current system with the previous Congress-led regime, where, according to him, work opportunities and contracts were fairly distributed among various groups.
“Earlier, everyone got a share—some handled construction, others supplied materials. Now, everything goes to one or two people close to the top,” he claimed. “As a result, the rich are getting richer while the poor are becoming poorer.”
To a query, he said history will eventually reveal whether the Congress leaders, who deserted the party, did so out of principle or for personal and material gain.
“We have heard that several former Congress MLAs who joined the NPP have acquired land, luxurious cars, and apartments after leaving the party,” claimed Pala.
According to him, the voters of respective constituencies are fully aware of the motivations behind these defections.
“People are not blind. They know whether their representatives shifted allegiance to serve the public or to enrich themselves,” he added.
