SHILLONG, Feb 25: The five Congress MLAs who were suspended for extending support to the MDA Government are yet to respond to the show-cause notice issued by the All India Congress Committee, despite the deadline ending on Wednesday.
Some of the suspended MLAs on Friday said they had not replied to the show-cause notice issued on February 14 with a 10-day deadline. Ampareen Lyngdoh said they will take a decision soon.
Congress working president, PN Syiem confirmed that none of the MLAs have filed their replies and added that the AICC will take a call on the matter.
The Congress leader sounded confident that despite being battered by the defection of 12 of its MLAs to the All India Trinamool Congress and the decision of the remaining five to join the state government, the party is hoping to spring a surprise in next year’s state elections.
The party is banking on its statewide support base and strong grassroots workers.
“The Congress may spring a surprise in the 2023 polls. When all the old faces run away from the party, it creates space for new faces. The grassroots workers are intact and we have a good existing support base,” Syiem said.
“You cannot say the Congress is a sinking ship. The problem is for other parties which are overloaded. We can easily sail to the harbour,” he said.
He claimed that people are not happy with performance of the MDA coalition and looking for an alternative which is the Congress.”
Syiem said the Congress, as an organisation, depends on the block-level. He said the party will have no problem when its support base gets strengthened at the block-level.
According to media reports, party MLAs PT Sawkmie and Mayralborn Syiem are looking to join the United Democratic Party while Ampareen Lyngdoh and Kimfa Marbaniang may join the National People’s Party. Mohendro Rapsang is likely to stay in the Congress.
“As of now, we cannot say anything but we have to be prepared for anything,” Syiem said.
