MPCC Chief Pala working against party legislators: Former Congress working president James Lyngdoh

SHILLONG:

Former Congress working president James Lyngdoh has accused Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) chief Vincent H Pala of working against the party legislators during past elections.

Addressing the press after tendering his resignation letter to AICC general secretary KC Venugopal on December 1, Lyngdoh took a volley of potshots at Pala to substantiate his accusation.

Citing the example of Sutnga-Saipung legislator Shitlang Pale, who managed to get only five votes from Pala’s village, Lyngdoh said that the MPCC chief was working against Pale in past elections.

“Shitlang got only 5 votes and lost in the 2013 Assembly elections. When he was re-elected in 2018, he again secured only twenty-eight votes from Pala’s village, which means that the MPCC chief is working against Shitlang,” he said.

He also slammed Pala for delaying in taking over as MPCC chief. “He (Pala) 18-19 days to take charge of office and when he did, the first thing he did was sideline me, the person, who had worked very hard in all three MP elections,” James said.

Further, the former Congress leader also alleged that one of the main reasons for the Congress’ downfall is the attempt by the MPCC chief to create a division among the three tribes – Khasi, Jaintia and Garo.

“This has also led to the defeat of the Congress in the recently concluded Rajabala by-poll. Pala had stated people should vote for the Congress to get a Khasi chief minister. Conrad Sangma took that statement as an election agenda,” he said.

Lyngdoh further said that the downfall of the Congress in Meghalaya began with the removal of veteran political leader DD Lapang as MPCC chief in 2017.

“The Congress could have won many seats but because of the change of guard (Lapang’s removal), they again decided to give forms to aspiring candidates – an exercise that was already done under Lapang. That’s why the party won only 21 seats in 2018 Assembly polls,” he stated.

He also questioned the decision to appoint Dr Celestine Lyngdoh as MPCC chief when senior leaders like RC Laloo and HDR Lyngdoh were available.

Lyngdoh also snubbed Dr Celestine for his failure as former MPCC president. “Have you ever seen him (Dr Celestine) campaigning during the 2018 Assembly elections and other elections to the ADCs and Member of Parliament?” he asked.

Hailing the recent mass exodus of the 12 Congress MLAs led by former chief minister Mukul Sangma to All India Trinamool Congress (AITC), Lyngdoh said that “they have done the right thing by leaving the Congress”.

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