MAWKYRWAT: The Congress is set to lose a senior leader in Khasi Hills as it “failed” to live up to people’s aspirations. Former PWD leader MM Danggo is likely to join NPP if Chief Minister Conrad Sangma fulfils the demand to upgrade Ranikor administrative unit to a civil subdivision. Sources in the Ranikor Block Congress Committee said talks started on May 25 after a delegation of local Congress leaders, led by Danggo, met the chief minister and submitted a memorandum demanding a civil sub-division.
There were other demands like setting up a community college and creating two more C&RD blocks at Khonjoy and Wahkaji. “We have been pursuing the issues since 2007 and both DD Lapang and Mukul Sangma failed the people of Ranikor constituency even though we belong to the same party and we were in the government. But we were surprised when we got a positive response from Conrad who promised to upgrade Ranikor to a civil sub-division and this is why we are considering joining NPP,” sources said. The sources added that Danggo is ready to resign as an MLA to join the ruling NPP.
Both Danggo, MPCC president Celestine Lyngdoh and working president James S Lyngdoh did not respond to phone calls. On Friday, the Block Congress Committee held a meeting at Rangthong in this regard. The sources said all party workers supported the idea of joining NPP if the demand was fulfilled. “They are of the opinion that if they get the civil subdivision, there is nothing to worry about the bye-election as he (Danggo) will win the election easily,” the sources said. Party workers have decided that they would request Danggo, District Congress Committee president Kitborlang Nongrem and District Youth Congress Committee president Comingstar Syiemlieh to resign from the Congress if Ranikor becomes a civil sub-division. “Everything will be clear only after June 12 when the chief minister and some of his Cabinet ministers visit Ranikor constituency,” the sources said, adding that Danggo and his supporters were “waiting for Conrad’s move before resigning”.