In a hard-hitting political salvo aimed at the ruling dispensation in Meghalaya, the Congress claiming that winds of anti-incumbency are blowing stronger than ever within the NPP, with defectors from the ruling side “double in number” already knocking at the doors of the grand old party. Adding fuel to the churn in state politics, the party claimed that many big names are willing to join Congress in Meghalaya, signalling a possible tectonic shift in the political landscape.
AICC Secretary Mathew Antony, who was in Meghalaya on Monday, struck a defiant note of revival politics, asserting that the Congress machinery is preparing for a comeback. “We just discussed the District Council elections in Garo Hills, and also strengthening the party from the ground. As a party, which has been in this country for long, we have seen the ups and downs. Yeah, definitely sure that we are coming back in 2028 and we’re taking the steps towards that. Because we have been approached a lot by the anti-incumbents within the NPP government. However, we are taking our course of actions for driving the Congress way back to the state. The anti-incumbents within the NPP are double in numbers,” he declared.
Positioning the Congress as the moral alternative to what he described as opportunistic politics, Antony launched a blistering attack on defectors. “So, on the absence of the Assembly, the four MLAs who have left us, how were they elected? Were they elected as individuals? Or were they elected under the symbol of hand? These are elected under the symbol of hand. So people trusted whom? People trusted the Congress party. So a few people ask me why I call them Judas. Because when you have the power of an MLA, it is the power given to you, entrusted to you by the party to fight for the party and become an MLA. The ruling party, because of their anti-incumbency, the chief minister found himself in a very insecure post or position, wanted to balance his side by adding people from the other side. And unfortunately we have people who have sold out their souls and what do we call them? Judas. Because they sold their souls for themselves forgetting that they were chosen by the people for the Congress party. And the same people will choose the Congress party again and that is the commitment which we have from the people.”
The AICC leader hinted that political heavyweights were already warming up to join Congress, but made it clear that loyalty would be the litmus test. “We have people with us who are willing to join, including big names in the state, but we are not looking into them. We are looking into people who can stay committed to this party. We are looking into people who can build the commitment to the people of Meghalaya. Our only interest in building the party is for the people who stay committed to the people of Meghalaya and not for themselves, who sell themselves.”
In a carefully calibrated stance, Antony and MPCC leaders refrained from targeting Pradesh Congress Committee President Vincent H Pala over the party’s slump since his appointment, but the leadership did not shy away from accusing former legislator Ronnie V Lyngdoh of betrayal.
