TURA:
The Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee has issued a show cause notice to the leader of the rebel youth Congress in Garo Hills which have been protesting against ticket allocation and had burnt the effigies of state Congress leaders on Friday last.
The show cause notice for the rebellion was issued to Meghalaya Pradesh Youth Congress general secretary Robert K Sangma by the MPCC Secretary Sanjay Das on January 28.
“Yes I have been given a 48-hour time to reply to the show cause notice for our protest. I will reply with all facts and details,” said Sangma after speaking to The Meghalayan.
The show cause comes a day after they staged a protest outside Congress Bhawan in Tura and burnt the effigies of state party president Vincent Pala, working president Deborah C Marak, Congress candidates Billykid A Sangma (North Tura) and Saleng A Sangma (Gambegre).
While the rebel leader has reiterated that he will stand his ground and not resign from the party, other protesting members are reportedly toying with the idea of “mass resignation” on Monday after accusing the party leadership of attempting to drown their protests with a show cause instead of holding talks to hear their grievances.
“We are not against the party but at the decision to welcome candidates from other parties that have worked against the Congress all these time until they were denied tickets by their respective political parties,” said Robert.
Dismissing claims of winnability being the core factor for the party, the rebel youth Congress pointed out that candidates selected in place of Congress workers in some of the constituencies did not figure as serious challengers.
The youth Congress has opposed what they term as “outsider” candidates in Salmanpara, Gambegre and Kharkutta.
In Kharkutta, two candidates who applied for the ticket were sidelined for a new entrant and relative of Tura MP Agatha K Sangma. Chireng Peter R Marak, who joined the party barely a month ago was given priority over a woman candidate and former Kharkutta legislator Omillo K Sangma.
In the same way, Congress’ Damrik K Sangma who had been preparing his campaign in Salmanpara since over a year ago was dropped and replaced by Sinbath Marak, a new entry.