SHILLONG:
A day after the five Congress MLAs were suspended by the AICC for lending their support to the National People’s Party (NPP)-led Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) government, their former colleague and TMC leader Mukul Sangma invited them for dinner.
“Going for a dinner with a colleague or a former colleague does not tantamount to any commitment of any kind,” Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader Ampareen Lyngdoh said.
She also said that as MLAs they continuously get invitations for “dinners, breakfast and lunch”.
“So we are enjoying the freedom and trying to figure out what to do next,” she said.
Lyngdoh said that the five Congress legislators are focusing on the interest of the group.
“We do not want to divulge anything because right now it is important for us to consider our options,” she added.
After the five Congress MLAs were served with a suspension order as well a show cause notice by the AICC, the CLP leader said that they were looking at all options and come up with a decision which will be beneficial individually first and then as a group.
Lyngdoh also said that there is confusion in the suspension letter sent by the AICC to the five MLAs since it was only mentioned that there is an anti-party omission by them and it never dwelt at length specifying quantification of this so-called suspension.
Meanwhile, the TMC leader said he invited the five MLAs for dinner since they have been colleagues for a long time.
Sangma also said that as representatives of the people they look at and take up issues collectively with the sole intention of addressing the concerns of the people.
He also said that as legislators they must always discuss and deliberate amongst themselves and see and explore the possibilities of aggregating the potentialities which is a healthy practice.
Sangma said that because of the political developments that has unfolded they are now separate.
But then that doesn’t prevent them from getting together and having a get-together and looking at issues before them.
When asked what will be their next step after being served with the suspension order, Lyngdoh said that they will revert back with a better statement after 12 days.
“We have been given the liberty to consider our stand once again so we will revert back,” she added.