Discontent is natural, engagement is key: Conrad Sangma

Correspondent

Shillong: Issuing a composed yet firm response to rising murmurs of an internal rift within the National People’s Party (NPP), party President and Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma has dismissed speculation of an “Old NPP vs New NPP” divide, stating that internal differences are part of any growing organization.

“Having discontentment or having difference is natural in any organization,” Sangma said, in a direct acknowledgment of the ongoing buzz within political and party circles.

As the NPP continues to expand its base by inducting leaders from across party lines, growing chatter suggests discontent among some long-serving members. Breaking his silence, the Chief Minister remarked, “Politics is complicated, organisation is complicated, you will have concerns, you will always have issues. You will always have issues that you want to bring out.”

Addressing reports of dissatisfaction among his own MLAs and ministers, Sangma said, “I have not heard that from anybody but as I said it is a natural process for individuals to have a lot of expectations, and therefore, whenever I get any information I am the first one to recall anybody.”

Citing a recent instance, he added, “I won’t take names but recently I had sent different groups of my leaders to certain districts, and when they had meetings with the districts, the party leaders shouted at those senior leaders. Immediately those people reported back to me and in one week’s time I personally called those people up and I told them I want to see you, please come and meet me. I spent one hour with them yesterday and I heard their problem out in detail and tried to resolve.”

Sangma continued, “Having problems is natural in life, it’s natural in an organisation, it’s more natural in government. It’s difficult to satisfy at all levels but if you don’t engage, if you don’t hear them out, if you don’t try, I think you are failing in your responsibility as a leader.”

He further stressed, “What is important is engaging with the people, talking to them. Finding out and being accessible to them. Today if a grassroots worker is able to access the Chief Minister and put up his or her concern to the Chief Minister, who is the National President of NPP…”

“Having discontentment or having difference is natural for any organisation, how the organisation responds to that is actually the key,” Sangma said. “Therefore it is required for the leadership, important for the senior party leaders and MLAs to continuously engage.”

“It is natural for this to happen in any organisation — forget political parties. Every organization goes through it,” he concluded.

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