Days after seemingly throwing in his lot with the Trinamool Congress, Rambrai Jyrngam MDC Bajop Pyngrope today told Highland Post that he has yet to decide on whether to quit the Congress or not.
Informing that he attended the Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee meeting yesterday where various assurances were given to him, like improving coordination within the party, filling vacancies in the party structure by appointing party workers, refraining from one-sided decisions, etc, Pyngrope said that he will see in the coming weeks if the issues discussed in the meeting come to pass.
When asked if he will accept another top position in the state Congress (he was once MPCC secretary), Pyngrope said that what is more important is that West Khasi Hills (where his constituency is located) is represented at the Congress high table.
He further said that Congress needs to stop the bleeding; while it still has good leaders, it cannot afford to lose any others after the string of defections and resignations since last month.
“The party leaders must prevent the defections and go and speak and approach the members because if it does nothing to stop the bleeding then it will be very hard for the party to revive,” he said.
Garo Hills is one area where it looks like rebuilding will be an uphill task but the MDC said that Congress still has its support in the region, though other parties are looking to chip away at what strength remains and the Congress needs to act fast before it is too late.
He also lamented what he described as a lack of support by the Congress high command during the three by-elections held in October, all of which the party lost.
“We worked so hard during the by-elections and did not sleep for days but the party high command did not give the needed support to the state Congress, which dismayed many members and shattered morale,” Pyngrope said.
Meanwhile, asked about that felicitation programme for Charles Pyngrope that set tongues wagging about his own loyalties, the young MDC stated that he merely attended the programme (where Charles was congratulated on being chosen as state chief of the Trinamool Congress) because the two are related and there has been no attempt by the TMC to win him over to its side.
