Former Home Minister, RG Lyngdoh, today stated that the recent infighting among the Congress party leaders created a lot of confusion among the followers.
“If the leaders do not work together then the followers get confused and if the leaders are working together then there is focus and they can take up issues whatever needs to be taken up seriously,” he told Highland Post.
Lyngdoh who made a political comeback after 13 year by rejoining the Congress, said politics has many dimensions and the reason for the Congress to lose in the by-polls was probably because of short notice wherein candidates did not have enough time to meet their followers. He said that the other reasons can also be because of the rebel candidates in all the three constituencies.
He however said that going by the statements it is good that Congress leaders from the State have reaffirmed their commitment to work hard to bring the party back into power in the 2023 Assembly elections.
Lyngdoh further observed that seeing the increase in vote shares of the Congress in the by-polls indicates that people still see Congress as the viable alternative.
He pointed out that the rebels did not win but just split votes and now have nowhere to go, which is a learning experience for them.
“This is also a learning experience for the Congress that it needs to pull up its socks and work on issues and respect the people’s apprehension and what they want,” he said.
When asked about the role of money power during elections, he said that there is an influence of money power because people can no longer rely on the promises made by candidates.
“If the candidates can make people understand and show that they are sincere and fulfill their promises and yearn to serve the masses then people will not want the money,” he said, adding, in coalition politics everybody takes authority but nobody takes responsibility, but to go to elections like angels.
He said that the people have to be vigilant and allow a single party to govern the state so that they will have the full authority and also take full responsibility.
He also asked why everyone keeps blaming the Congress-ruled in the state when Congress as well has always worked in coalition with other parties in the past.
“If some coalition partner says it’s a stabilizing factor then they should support the government but don’t take the chair and let those who sit in the chair take the full responsibility,” he said.
He asked, “If you say Congress is a sinking ship then where is the sea? Is the Sea the NPP or the other parties or all the voters? And how can one speak on behalf of the voters because it’s the voters who will determine whether the ship is sinking or floating?”
