Shillong, Oct 8: Former cabinet minister and East Shillong MLA Ampareen Lyngdoh said that things have cooled down following her removal from the cabinet and that the National People’s Party (NPP) leader, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma, invited the constituency party for a discussion.
Lyngdoh said that at the meeting explanations were made even as she added that the members from the East Shillong NPP pointed out that the most important priority is to go ahead with the agenda of the constituency.
According to her, at the meeting with the NPP national president it was finalised that any policies brought by the government need to have a thorough discussion. She also said that any decision taken that affects the MLA also concerns the constituents.
“We should not be deprived of our demands, which are legitimate, or be rejected only because one is not a minister anymore,” Lyngdoh said.
She added that if such demands are fulfilled, the constituents do not need an alternative empowerment. Lyngdoh also said that the CM assured them that he will handhold the constituency so that whatever demands the community needs are achieved.
Some of the demands are improved drinking water, electricity, management of law and order, parking and hawkers.
Lyngdoh said that going on from here, she would work mostly as an MLA of East Shillong and in maintaining her connection to the electorate.
On issues concerning the state, she hoped that the government will call her to discuss issues and if anything is lacking, a platform has to be found to address the concerns, so that there is no feeling that she is constituency centric.
She also pointed out that as a public representative they cannot own or permanently hold on to any posts or assignments.
“We are the possessor of only one principle and that is the people have elected us for a term of five years,” Lyngdoh said on Wednesday, adding that as an elected representative chosen by the public she has to be satisfied and keep on working irrespective of whether one is a Minister or not.
The East Shillong legislator said that the party she is in has the right to drop her and assign another representative the responsibility earlier given to her. Lyngdoh said that it is in the wisdom of the Chief Minister, to drop anyone.
She also said that the issue of her being dropped as a Cabinet Minister is in the past and there is no need to go back to what has happened.
Lyngdoh added that as party members they are satisfied with the decision of the Chief Minister even as she stated that she was keen to move forward.
“When we join any party we have to be disciplined and we don’t have to speak on it,” she added.
Asked if she was satisfied with her term as a Cabinet Minister, Lyngdoh stated that there is nothing such as one that has achieved all the targets set.
She said that in governance there is nothing such as “I” but there is “We”.
Adding there are many unfinished tasks she however added that there is no need to lose hope since the government is the same.
On there being no woman in the Cabinet, she expressed surprise and also sadness since there is no female representative. Lyngdoh urged the government to look into the issues of women and give them power, adding that it is difficult for them to get into politics.
In a message to the women of the state, she stated that even though there are no representatives in the Cabinet she urged them not to lose hope stating that there are women in the House who will take up their issues.
