Shillong, May 27: Chief Minister and National People’s Party (NPP) supremo Conrad K Sangma today dismissed allegations by Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) president Vincent H Pala that there are visible cracks within the NPP, saying internal discussions and differing opinions are part of the party’s democratic functioning.
Pala had claimed yesterday that divisions within the ruling party had become more evident during discussions surrounding the candidate for Meghalaya’s lone Rajya Sabha seat.
Responding to the allegations, Sangma said the NPP functions through discussion and consensus rather than “high command culture”, an obvious dig at national parties like the Congress, where the state unit bows to whatever is decided by the headquarters in Delhi.
“The NPP is very clear. We are very democratic in our process. There is no concept of a high command coming in and bulldozing a decision,” Sangma said.
He said party meetings often involve “positive, critical and constructive discussions” before any major decision is finalised. “In those meetings, everybody says what they want to say, even if it means that I don’t agree with you. That’s how a healthy democracy works.”
The NPP chief maintained that differences of opinion within the party should not be mistaken for internal conflict.
“We have our views and opinions. That is natural for any individual. But at the end of the day, we will do what is in the best interests of the party and more importantly in the best interests of the state,” he said.
Taking a swipe at the Congress, Sangma said Pala should instead focus on issues within his own party.
“Pala does not have to worry about cracks in the NPP. Maybe he has to see more of the cracks in Congress,” he remarked.
On the upcoming Rajya Sabha election, Sangma said the NPP would follow a democratic process before deciding its course of action. “All party members and MLAs, who are the main voters, will sit down, discuss and decide on how we should move forward,” he added.
