GHADC NPP MDCs may join Congress, claims MPCC president
By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Oct 30: Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) president Vincent H. Pala on Thursday said that any decision regarding the possible return of former Chief Minister Mukul M. Sangma to Congress will be taken by the All India Congress Committee (AICC) and not at the state level.
Speaking to reporters, Pala clarified that the matter is beyond his jurisdiction as the state party chief. He added that there has been no official discussion so far regarding Dr Sangma’s return to the party.
He cited the example of Zenith M. Sangma’s rejoining, which was finalised only after the approval from the party’s high command in Delhi, after months of discussions at the state level.
While welcoming all those who wish to return, Pala maintained that Dr Sangma’s case stands apart, given his stature as a former Chief Minister and a senior political leader of the state.
“When he left, he was firm in his decision not to return. As of now, we have not held any discussions to facilitate his comeback,” Pala said.
“For Dr Mukul’s return, the approval of the AICC president will be required, along with feedback from party leaders and workers, especially from the Garo Hills,” he explained.
On a personal note, the MPCC chief said he would be more than happy to welcome the former Chief Minister back to the party if he decides to return.
“I have nothing against him. He told me earlier that his decision to leave Congress was made even before I became the MPCC president,” Pala stated, adding that the two shared a good working relationship even before entering active politics.
He expressed satisfaction over the recent return of Zenith Sangma, calling it a positive development for Congress in Meghalaya.
“Zenith has held many important roles in the past — AICC secretary, MPYC president — and his return has brought new energy among the party workers,” Pala said.
He revealed that Congress is working to rebuild and strengthen its base by bringing back former leaders and inducting new faces.
“There are several leaders, including former MLAs, who are in the pipeline to rejoin the party. We plan to welcome them in phases,” Pala said, hinting at more people in the Garo Hills joining the party soon.
On Wednesday, Tura Lok Sabha member Saleng A. Sangma had ruled out the possibility of Mukul Sangma returning to Congress.
Speaking to reporters, Saleng had said that Mukul Sangma had made it “very clear” that he would not rejoin Congress.
‘NPP MDCs from GHADC may join Congress’
claimed that several sitting MDCs of the National People’s Party (NPP) from the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) are likely to be denied party tickets in the upcoming council elections scheduled for early next year.
He said that Congress has received reports suggesting that the NPP leadership is planning to field some of its sitting MLAs from Garo Hills instead of re-nominating several of its current MDCs.
“Many NPP MDCs have already approached Congress seeking tickets to contest the GHADC elections,” Pala revealed.
He further stated that Congress has been preparing for the GHADC elections for the past year, citing strong anti-incumbency against the ruling NPP-led Executive Committee.
According to Pala, the MPCC has invited applications for party tickets, with the deadline set for tomorrow. “So far, we have received about 60 applications from ticket aspirants for all the 29 seats,” he said.
Admitting that ticket distribution will be a challenging task, Pala said the party will carefully assess constituencies where multiple contenders are seeking nominations. “In some constituencies, there are six to seven aspirants, so finalising candidates will not be easy,” he noted.
Pala also disclosed that many new members are expected to join Congress in the coming weeks, further strengthening the party ahead of the elections.
He added that the MPCC plans to conduct training sessions for party workers to ensure disciplined and effective campaigning.
“We will train our people on how to speak responsibly during the election campaigns and avoid making random statements,” Pala said.
