SHILLONG:
A day after the All India Congress Committee (AICC) suspended the last five of its legislators for three years for supporting the National People’s Party-led Meghalaya Democratic Alliance, one of them revealed that he will contest from the United Democratic Party (UDP) in 2023.
Mawlai legislator, Process T Sawkmie, told The Meghalayan, “What’s the point of hiding, we should have the courage to say whatever we have inside. In 2023, I will fight from the UDP.”
He also said that he was surprised to learn that he has been suspended for three years from the Congress.
According to him, the five MLAs were suspended the day they joined the MDA.
Sawkmie said that even before the Congress decided to suspend them the Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee president, Vincent H Pala, had said that the party had moved ahead to no longer recognise them.
“Now it is very clear from the statement of the president of the MPCC that he does not recognise the five MLAs anymore,” Sawkmie said.
On February 8, East Shillong MLA and Congress Legislature Party leader Ampareen Lyngdoh, Sawkmie, Mohendro Rapsang, Mayralborn Syiem and Kimfa Marbaniang lent their support to the MDA government which also includes the BJP. They were subsequently suspended and served with a show cause notice.
Sawkmie said that he does not want to leave the Congress, but since the party does not have leaders who can lead the country, he has no other option.
“We need leaders who have vision and capacity and I don’t see that. The question of going back to the Congress does not arise anymore,” he said. He also said that had he not come to an understanding with the president of the UDP, Metbah Lyngdoh, to contest the 2023 Assembly elections from the party he wouldn’t have dared to reveal his plans.
“Since I have decided and the UDP has also welcomed me, it is 100 per cent that in 2023 I will fight from the UDP. My appeal to all the voters of Mawlai is to again give me a chance for the overall development of the constituency and the state as a whole,” Sawkmie said.
Earlier, Ampareen had revealed to the The Meghalayan that she would contest from the National People’s Party in the 2023 Assembly elections.