Pala Under Fire as Congress Faces Crisis in Meghalaya

Correspondent

Shillong: In what can only be described as a political bloodbath for the Congress in Meghalaya, the party’s leadership is under intense scrutiny as its legislative strength has plunged to zero. The state unit is now grappling with an existential crisis, with Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) President Vincent Pala facing mounting criticism over his failure to prevent the exodus of party MLAs.

Ever since Pala took over as MPCC president, the party has been in freefall. First, Dr. Mukul Sangma, then Congress Legislature Party leader, defected to the Trinamool Congress along with 11 MLAs in a tectonic political shift. The remaining five MLAs were subsequently suspended after aligning with the ruling National People’s Party (NPP)-led MDA government—leaving the Congress without a single representative in the Assembly.

Despite this unprecedented collapse, MPCC Working President Deborah C. Marak remains defiant.

“Congress is not a sinking ship. Let people talk. If that’s the case, how did we win the Tura Lok Sabha seat—without Congress MLAs, without Congress MDCs? Who made the leaders? The public. The people,” Marak asserted.

Challenging the claim that Congress lacks leadership, she said, “When people vote for the Congress, there will be power, there will be leaders. Leadership doesn’t begin only when someone becomes a Chief Minister or Minister. When you take responsibility, you are a leader. We have many such leaders. Do you think only those with power or money qualify as leaders? No.”

In a veiled jab at the ruling dispensation, she added, “You cannot even pay one month’s salary to District Council employees—do you still call that leadership? People may say Congress lacks leaders, but we have many. Just because we’re not in power doesn’t mean we’re leaderless. Politics has its ups and downs.”

On the mass defections, Marak offered a pragmatic view, distancing the leadership from full responsibility.

“This time, we couldn’t form our own government or win enough seats. That’s why some MLAs, for personal reasons, are joining the NPP. They want to be part of the ruling side, not the opposition. It’s their personal decision.”

Rejecting the idea that Vincent Pala alone should be blamed, Marak stated, “If you question the president’s competence just because legislators are leaving, I disagree. What can one person do alone? In politics, we all share responsibility. Whether it’s rebuilding or restructuring the party, it’s a collective task.”

Asked whether the debacle was rooted in an ego clash between Vincent Pala and Dr. Mukul Sangma, Marak offered a terse response, “No comment.”

Also Read: Meghalaya: Congress Unshaken by Ronnie Lyngdoh’s Exit

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