INFIGHTING IN MEGHALAYA CONGRESS BEFORE LOK SABHA ELECTIONS

With some Meghalaya Congress leaders readying for hara-kiri during this Lok Sabha election and sabotaging the chances of the Congress candidates, the party High Command has directed State leaders to “employ all might to neutralize the saboteurs.”

An overtly strong worded letter was written by the All India Congress Committee (AICC) General Secretary, Secretary

Luizinho Falerio to the Meghalaya Pradesh Congress president, DD Lapang on the internal strife.

The Congress General Secretary said that it has come to the knowledge that some “Congress leaders are instigating Congress workers” to sabotage the success of Congress candidates which is being viewed seriously by the High Command.

Mincing no words, Falerio directed Lapang: “You are requested to employ all the might at your command to neutralize the saboteurs so that the Party wins every Parliamentary seat.”

The Congress has put up its sitting candidate, Vincent Pala for the Shillong Lok Sabha seat. On the other hand it has given ticket to first-timer Daryl Momin, grandson of Meghalaya’s first Chief Minister Williamson Sangma, for the Tura Lok Sabha seat.

There has been considerable squabbling for tickets in both the constituencies. There was a strong lobby, which was not in favour of giving Pala the ticket, which included senior Congress leaders. For the Tura seat, Chief Minister Mukul Sangma’s brother Zenith Sangma was also in the race.

The Shillong seat is a traditional Congress bastion. The Tura seat has been in the grip of Purno Sangma  and whichever political party he represented for several decades now. So for both the seats the Congress is fighting a tough battle, now with the infighting, the task before the party is cut out.

Meanwhile, Falerio further said to Lapang that he has to inspire the leaders and workers for their “unity and solidarity” so that the party candidates emerge successfully.

“Any complaints against them (Congress leaders or workers) of having indulged in anti-party work during elections and any non-compliance with these instructions, will lead to serious disciplinary action against the saboteurs even when the election process is on,” Faleiro warned.

On the other hand, the AICC has also rushed in its secretary, in-charge Meghalaya, Vijaylakshmi Sadho and has held a series of meeting between party workers and leaders to diffuse the crisis during the past couple of days.

The crisis has deepened to such an extent that the AICC secretary is staying put here and would hold meetings with party workers for another couple of days.