Congress leaders from the State including Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) president Vincent Pala and Congress Legislature Party leader Dr. Mukul Sangma have reaffirmed their commitment to work hard to bring the party back into power in the 2023 Assembly elections.
The two leaders were among those who attended the review meeting convened by the Congress high command to take stock of the performance of the party and the reasons for its defeat in the recent Assembly by-elections to three constituencies in Meghalaya.
The review meeting was held in New Delhi and chaired by All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary (organisation) K C Venugopal.
AICC secretary in-charge of Meghalaya Manish Chatrath was part of the crucial meeting which was also attended by senior legislator Charles Pyngrope and MPCC working presidents — Ampareen Lyngdoh, Marthon Sangma and James Lyngdoh.
According to an official statement issued by Pala and Sangma, the meeting was to evaluate the party’s performance in the recently concluded by-elections in the State.
Pala and Sangma also stated that the meeting unanimously resolved to consolidate on all strengths of the party in order to effectively overcome hurdles and challenges faced by the party in the run up to the State Assembly elections in 2023.
During the meeting, it was resolved to immediately prepare the party on a war footing in order to achieve a desirable result in 2023.
“The party remains united and in one voice and will face these elections and ensure that the state of Meghalaya is mandated to be governed by a strong, focused and corruption free government post 2023,” the statement said.
It may be mentioned that by-elections were held last month in Mawryngkneng, Mawphlang and Rajabala Assembly constituencies. However, the Congress lost the by-polls despite Mawryngkneng and Rajabala being the seats won by the party in 2018.
The attendance by Dr. Mukul Sangma at the review meeting convened by the AICC is significant since in the past few weeks there were media reports that he was planning to switch over to the Trinamool Congress.
When asked if Dr. Sangma will continue with the party, MPCC working president Ampareen Lyngdoh said that he (Dr. Sangma) is a loyal Congress man and was committed to strengthening the party.
Lyngdoh added that the party leaders will meet the press in Shillong likely on November 23 once everyone returns from New Delhi.
