Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) President, Celestine Lyngdoh, has expressed his desire to be relieved from his post in the state party, leader of the opposition Dr Mukul Sangma said today.
Dr Sangma said this after All India Congress Committee (AICC) in-charge of Meghalaya, Manish Chatrath, said that he had not discussed the matter with Lyngdoh. Chatrath is on his maiden visit to the state after taking charge.
Dr Sangma said that Lyngdoh had been speaking to senior party figures for “quite some time” on his desire to approach the AICC in order for a new state President to be appointed.
However, Dr Sangma would not be drawn on speculation that the new MPCC President will be Charles Pyngrope.
Chatrath had met with Dr Sangma and Lyngdoh, as well as other senior party figures today, but he said that there were no discussions on the leadership of the state unit of the Congress.
“This meeting was to understand each and every one because I don’t know most of them, so it was just to get acquainted with the representatives,” Chatrath said.
He also said that the health of the Meghalaya Congress while in opposition is strong, with good cadres, and there were no rumblings of discontent in the party.
When it was pointed out that five party MLAs defected to rivals before the 2018 elections, he appeared nonplussed and said that this is part and parcel of politics.
“Some people go, some people join; it is an ongoing process. I don’t see it as a very big issue,” he stated. “We are the oldest political party in the country. A political party which was there which is there and which will always be there.”
