SHILLONG: The recent dropping of senior Congress leader Prestone Tynsong has lessened his chances of claiming for leadership after seven months if a Congress-led government is formed after the next polls.
Besides, a few Congress legislators said the timing of the reshuffle was not right since the party cannot afford to create enemies within just a few months before the polls.
They also pointed out that while the Congress leadership took action against Sniawbhalang Dhar following a complaint from the Jowai Block Congress Committee for trying to project his brother- in-law to contest Jowai seat, there was no complaint from any quarters against Prestone.
Party sources who are close to the rebel Congress group said Tynsong has emerged as the potential leader in Khasi Hills posing threat to the leadership of the chief minister and also to MPCC president DD Lapang.
Since Lapang is too old to claim next leadership coupled with the leader not having many supporting legislators in CLP, the next chance would be for Tynsong if he manages the numbers.
Earlier in June last year, when there was a move to oust Mukul with the support of 20 legislators, Lapang’s name had figured as the next leader.
However, when a section of legislators projected Tynsong to replace Mukul, Lapang backed out and supported Mukul that finally foiled the plan of the dissidents to oust the chief minister.
A Congress legislator, who was part of the move to oust Mukul said at that point of time a lady legislator, who took the list of 20 members to get the signatures of all the 20 dissidents disliked Lapang to be the leader and instead backed Tynsong.
The recently dropped minister, Sniawbhalang, and his brother Ngaitlang Dhar among a few others had also supported Tynsong who, however, did not have the majority.
Lapang was also annoyed over the stand of the legislators who were supporting Tynsong.
Party sources said prior to the recent reshuffle, there were a series of close-door meetings between the chief minister and the MPCC president to discuss about Tynsong and Sniawbhalang.
There were media reports that Tynsong and Sniawbhalang were planning to join NPP which, however, was denied by the duo.
Party sources said the action against them was to indirectly prevent any anti-Congress activities on their part, which otherwise would have strengthened the political party that they may finally join. Earlier in May this year, three-time legislator Tynsong did not like the way MPYC youth wing president Richard Marak had projected Mukul as the next leader.
Marak had said that Mukul would continue to remain the chief minister after the next polls, but Tynsong had made it clear that CLP would decide on the next chief minister.
Party sources admitted that with the action against Tynsong, there are no senior leaders in Khasi Hills who can pose threat to the leadership of Mukul.
