Despite the myriad troubles faced by the Congress Party in the state, the Meghalaya Pradesh Youth Congress is still witnessing a strong growth in numbers.
The state Youth Congress has a membership of over 23,000, MPYC president designate, Banphiralang Basaiawmoit told Highland Post today. Around 30 percent of that number are recent joinees.
Like the rest of the party, the Youth Congress has suffered through numerous defections in the last few months.
Basaiawmoit, however, said that only a few of those who made a song and dance of their resignations in public were actually MPYC members.
Meanwhile, the appointment of a full-fledged MPYC president will be decided on February 24. Eight candidates had filed nominations for the post and the top three delegates, including Basiawmoit, have been chosen through an online process by registered active members of the MPYC.
The top three candidates will now have to face a final round of interviews in New Delhi on February 24.
He stated that all the three candidates are equally capable for the post but, no matter who wins, the three will continue to work together for the interest of the party and youth.
The Youth Congress is, he added, not just about hoisting flags during elections but it is a platform for the youth to speak up and develop their core values and principles and put forth the interest of the youth.
“We want to see long-term solutions and see investments made in small and medium scale industries, primary and basic education and healthcare,” Basaiawmoit said while lamenting that there are many school dropouts especially during the coronavirus pandemic.
Furthermore, he felt confident that the Congress will win several seats in next year’s Assembly election. He based this feeling on the positive feedback for the party from the public and noted that defections are part and parcel of the electoral process.
Nevertheless, he was quite disparaging when asked about the five Congress members who decided unilaterally to support the government, describing them as unethical.
“One day they are saying that there is rampant illegal coal mining in the state and the moment they join the government they start saying that they are not privy to such happenings,” he said, adding that they will have an uphill task to hold on to their seats in 2023.
