SHILLONG:
After resigning from Meghalaya Legislative Assembly to join the National People’s Party (NPP), suspended Congress legislator Ampareen Lyngdoh said that she was not sure about other regional parties while making an obvious reference to the United Democratic Party (UDP).
“I have seen reports that in my constituency there is confusion with one candidate who is from a regional party. I did not feel secure in joining such regional parties,” Lyngdoh said.
Senior UDP leader Bindo M Lanong is in a tussle with the party over ticket allotment.
While Lanong wants to contest from Nongkrem, the UDP wants him from East Shillong. The party has reserved the Nongkrem ticket for independent legislator Lambor Malgniang.
Suspended leader from West Shillong Mohendro Rapsang also resigned as a member of the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly.
Lyngdoh and Rapsang submitted their resignation letters to the Commissioner and Secretary, Assembly Secretariat, Simons on Monday afternoon.
Speaking to reporters after submitting the resignation, Lyngdoh said that she knows that there will be mixed feelings over their decision to join the NPP, even as she added that both respect the opinion of the people of the state.
The East Shillong legislator said that in the last five years amidst so much pressure, confusion and suffering the two had served the people of the state with all their understanding and dedicated services.
“Now at this stage where we have to decide what to do as the Congress party has shown us the door, they have dismissed us and our opinions about our roles as stakeholders in the great democracy of this country they have refused to consult with us, they had refused to partner with us since February 2022,” she said.
Lyngdoh said that with much pain in their hearts for the rejection from the Congress they have decided to walk out of the party from the main door officially without fear or reservation.
“Now we are going to enter a new political forum. We are joining the NPP,” she said.
The former Congress MLA said that the decision was made after consultation with their supporters in their respective constituencies.
She said that both are convinced that if they have to leave a national party like the Indian National Congress they should consolidate a party which is from the state – the NPP.
Urging the need for consolidation, Lyngdoh said that fragmentation of votes may not be good in the long run for the people of the state.
When asked why they did not join a regional party, she said that discussion with such parties was not clear.
Lyngdoh said that the NPP was a regional party with a national outlook.
She also said that another reason for her joining the NPP is because there seems to be minimal infighting in the party.
“We were worried about going again to another political party where this infighting would be the cause of its own downfall,” the former East Shillong MLA said.
Lyngdoh said that the NPP despite all odds has come out with productive schemes and policies.
She also admitted that she was approached by the BJP but her supporters rejected the offer even as she added that in the present day politics everyone is ready to work with each other after the elections.
“Very clearly they (supporters) have said if an option has to be taken they said go for the NPP,” the former legislator said.
Asked if she was ready to take responsibility of the allegations against the government by joining the NPP at the fag end of the term, Lyngdoh said that allegations will remain as allegations.
“I don’t think there has ever been a government in Meghalaya that has not suffered incumbent factors. Whether these issues are real or imaginary or not so serious,” Lyngdoh said.
She said that the NPP has taken forward the inter-state border dispute with Assam and also issues like the need to implement Inner Line Permit in Meghalaya by passing a resolution in the state Assembly.
Lyngdoh, however, said that the issue of the ILP will likely be on the backburner till the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
The former MLA also said that the issue of including the Khasi and Garo languages in the 8th Schedule of the Constitution has been partially addressed after the state government has decided to permit these languages to be part of the proceedings of the House.
She also said that the NPP-led government has initiated the peace pact with the proscribed Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC).
Asked if the region bringing the largest number of MLAs will have a chief minister candidate, Lyngdoh said that the NPP legislators will decide on their leader. “Let those that win elections decide on their leader. People select the right candidate, the right party,” she said.
The former East Shillong MLA cautioned not to be divided on communal lines.