Congress on overdrive to firefight desertions

MPCC dissolves block Congress committees that have possible deserters

From A Correspondent

Shillong, Sept 1: Facing a combition of anti-incumbency and possible desertion of its legislators before the 2018 Assembly election, the Congress in Meghalaya has begun to restructure the party in constituencies where there is a possibility of the MLAs leaving the party.

The Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) had already dissolved block Congress committees in Mawkyrwat, rtiang and Umroi Assembly constituencies, which are being represented by Congress MLAs Rowell Lyngdoh, Sniawbhalang Dhar and Ngaitlang Dhar respectively.

It may be mentioned that Sniawbhalang and another senior Congress legislator Prestone Tynsong were dropped from the Cabinet by Chief Minister Mukul Sangma in August.

The dissolution of the block committees represented by the three sitting Congress MLAs could mean that the Congress may not offer the party tickets to the sitting legislators.

There are reports that the Dhar brothers may not contest the upcoming election on Congress ticket anyway.

Rowell, who was removed from the Cabinet last year, has been criticising the State leadership of the party.

Earlier, the MPCC had removed Rowell from the post of president of the block committee. The veteran Congress leader blamed MPCC president DD Lapang for imposing his decisions and changing the functiories of the block committee.

However, the MPCC has not yet dissolved the block Congress committee in Pynursla constituency, being represented by MLA Prestone Tynsong.

It had been widely speculated that even Tynsong is leaving the Congress, and will contest from another party. But there are reports that he will apply for the party ticket. It was reported that Tynsong would apply for Congress party ticket and also that he was yet to discuss the fallout of his removal from the Cabinet with his supporters.

Meanwhile, the Congress party started distribution of application forms from Thursday, and the last date for submission is 15th September. The early distribution of application forms would mean that the Congress will be able to filter out the legislators who are no more interested to contest from the party.