SHILLONG:
Congress Lok Sabha Member of Parliament (MP) from Shillong and Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) president Vincent Pala on Wednesday scoffed at the Trinamool Congress (TMC) for claiming that he will jump ship before the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.
Recently, TMC leader Mukul Sangma claimed that the MPCC president was keen to contest the 2024 Lok Sabha ticket on an NPP ticket.
When asked, Pala said that he did not want to talk about Sangma.
“But many people tried to convince me, may also tried to woo me but I am not very cheap and I just cannot be carried away by a party,” Pala said while asserting that he will always be with the Congress unless the party threw him out and there was no question of contesting from another party.
He also said that he has many friends in the BJP and the NPP who often tell him to join their party but he always wants to be a “simple man” even as he added that he does not mind if he wins or loses elections but will not surrender his rights and values.
“I will be with the Congress and contest from the party,” Pala told reporters at the Congress Bhavan.
Sangma had alleged that the Congress chief’s statement praising the government for addressing the concern regarding the ‘high level’ was a reflection that he wanted to join the NPP.
Pala had lauded Deputy Chief Minister in-charge Home (Police) Prestone Tynsong for ending the “high level”, which is alleged to be involved in the illegal transportat of coal in the state.