There has been no change in the status of the ‘Congress 5’ – the suspended MLAs of the party that defied the state and central leadership to support the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance government.
Ampareen Lyngdoh and Mayralborn Syiem today informed that they have not had any communication from the Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee.
However, the five have been served with a showcause notice, which the suspended MLAs have basically ignored. However, the party has still not officially thrown them out as it was distracted by recent state elections in the rest of the country, where the Congress performed poorly.
On the other hand, the Congress 5 sat with the government on the Treasury benches in the recently-concluded Assembly session.
“Let those who served us a notice tell us what they want us to do because we are beyond understanding,” Lyngdoh told reporters. “From day one we have said that we didn’t understand the suspension and we continue to reiterate that.”
Since the move to support the government, speculation is raging as to which parties the five will contest under in next year’s state elections.
When asked what her stand is, Lyngdoh responded that she is in touch with her core supporters and the electorate.
“The public is aware of where I’m going and what I’m doing. I don’t need anyone else to know beyond that because my relationship is with my immediate voters and they know what I’m doing and I’m happy with that,” the East Shillong MLA said.
Meanwhile, Syiem, the Nongpoh representative, said that the MPCC All India Congress Committee know what their status is but that nobody from the party has tried reaching out to the five.
“We are legislators and eventually we have to fight elections, so there is no grudges held against anyone or the party,” Syiem said.
