The five-member Congress Legislature Party (CLP) in Meghalaya may have broken the record of being the first in India to join an alliance where BJP is also part of, but MDCs of the party are opposed to the decision.
Speaking to media persons here today, Congress leader Pynshngain Syiem who is also the leader of opposition in Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) termed the action of the five party MLAs as “totally wrong and unacceptable”.
“It is very wrong for the CLP to take the decision to be part of the MDA government without the consent and decision of the party.
When any decision is taken there has to be a procedure but sadly in this case there is no procedure at all. The procedure is that CLP should consult the State party leadership. Since the MPCC president is in Delhi for the parliament session, the MLAs should have waited for a few days. After we get the approval from the party leadership then we can go ahead,” Syiem said.
He also said that although the MDA government is led by NPP, the fact that BJP is also part of the ruling alliance made it impossible for Congress to join such a coalition.
“How can Congress and BJP be in the same coalition government?
It is not because they are untouchables but the vision and ideology of the two parties are totally different from each other,” Syiem added.
Senior Congress MDC Ronnie V. Lyngdoh said that people of the State should not misconstrue that Congress has decided to work together with the BJP.
“As party that believes in secularism, socialism and democracy, we want to make it clear that Congress has nothing to do with BJP.
It is only the decision of the five MLAs and not of the party as a whole,” Lyngdoh said.
Further, party MDC from Mawhati, Charles Marngar said that the party has no knowledge about the decision taken by the five party MLAs.
“The party was not informed about their decision to join the MDA government. We are not happy with this,” he said.
Congress MDC from Mawkyrwat, Carness Sohshang also reiterated that the five party MLAs have not consulted the party before extending their support to the MDA government.
“This MDA government has failed on all fronts. How can we work together with this government? Our stand is to fight against this failing government,” Sohshang said.
He added, “Everywhere there is a strong anti-incumbency wave and people wanted Congress to come back to power in 2023. But this sudden action by the five MLAs has caused confusion among the people.”
The Congress MLAs who have extended support to the MDA government are Ampareen Lyngdoh, Mayralborn Syiem, Mohendro Rapsang, Kimfa Marbaniang and Process T. Sawkmie.
With the joining of the Congress MLAs, Chief Minister Conrad Sangma will have the unique feat of getting both the Congress and BJP to be a part of the same government.
Further, with the remaining five Congress MLAs joining the MDA government, the Trinamool Congress is now the only opposition party in the State.
