Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) president and Member of Parliament (MP) from Shillong Lok Sabha seat Vincent H Pala said that the party would welcome Dr. Mukul Sangma and Charles Pyngrope and all others who deserted the party.
“I became an MP after Bah Charles proposed my name. I became a politician working together with Mukul Sangma. They are still in my heart and mind and I have respect for both of them,” Pala said on the sidelines of a programme on Saturday.
The MPCC president said that both of them left the Congress not because the party had expelled them but left it on their own interest.
He, however, said that the Congress has capable individuals who can fill the void left by many.
“We have alternatives in many of the areas. There are young, educated and reliable leaders who are coming up now,” Pala said.
Stating that the Congress is not depending on Pyngrope or Sangma but at the same time he added that the party will be happy if they come back.
“But even if they don’t come we will be ready,” the MPCC chief said.
He reminded that all the Congress leaders left the party when they were in the opposition and even now they are still sitting on the opposition and until and unless there is a change they may not like to come back to the party.
“Their interest to come to another party is for power and so I don’t think that they will come to a poor and powerless party,” Pala said.
Meanwhile, commenting on the performance of the Voice of the People Party (VPP) the MPCC chief said that in a short span of time the party got a good vote share.
He said that the VPP will be strong in certain areas in and around Shillong even as he added that four months to the MP election is a long time in politics and said that the true colour of this new party will be known only after the election.
Pala also added that the graph of the VPP is starting to come down.
“Many of the people from Mawryngkneng met me and said that MP, MLA and MDC elections are two different things,” he added.
