Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) chief Vincent H. Pala today said that Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader Dr. Mukul Sangma has no differences with him, but with the high command.
His statement comes days after reports of internal frictions in the party after Pala was named as the new State party president.
“I think there are no differences between the CLP leader and me. I spoke to the CLP leader and he is having a problem with the way the president (Pala) was appointed as he was not consulted may be. So that issue is with the high command and has nothing to do with me,” Pala told reporters at the Windermere Estate after the Pradesh Election Committee (PEC) meeting.
Pala stated that it would not be right to say that Sangma had a difference with him as he was not the one who had taken a decision since the party has to abide by whatever the high command tells them to do.
On the upcoming by-polls to the three Assembly constituencies of Mawryngkneng, Mawphlang and Rajabala the MPCC president said it is not at all a test but the real test for him would be the 2023 Assembly elections.
“I don’t take this as a test. This is a sudden bye-election,” he added.
Pala also dismissed news reports that Sangma and his camp were trying to break away and said, “These will remain as reports only.”
Meanwhile, on reports of Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) member, Lamphrang Blah jumping ship to the ruling National People’s Party (NPP) to contest the Mawphlang bye-election, the MPCC president said that the former wanted to “try his luck”.
According to Pala even in the 2018 polls Blah wanted to contest but had to give way to Kennedy Khyriem, who was then the sitting legislator.
“He left because he thought that he will try his luck. He is a very nice man and for 20 years served the people (being in the Congress),” the MPCC chief added.
Pala also said that the Congress gave Blah the respect by appointing him as the leader of opposition in the KHADC.
“So there is no reason for him not to be happy with the Congress because whatever possible in the council we gave him the top post,” he added.
It may be mentioned that on Friday, the CLP leader had said that due to grievances within the party, Blah is leaving the party to contest the Mawphlang bye-election on a NPP ticket.
