Congress files petition against Charles, Shitlang

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaDecember 10, 2021

The Congress legislature party (CLP) leader Ampareen Lyngdoh on Friday filed the last batch of petitions seeking disqualification of the two remaining MLAs, who along with the 10 others had recently defected to the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC).

“We are very confident that our petitions stand tremendous merit while interpreting the Tenth Schedule to the Constitution of India,” Ampareen told journalists after submitting the petitions before the Assembly Speaker Metbah Lyngdoh.

The last batch of petitions was filed against former Assembly Speaker and Nongthymmai legislator Charles Pyngrope, who also became the first state president of AITC, and Sutnga-Saipung legislator Shitlang Pale.

Earlier in view of the Congress’ petition, former Chief Minister Mukul Sangma along with nine other legislators had submitted their replies to the Speaker after 7 days time given to comply with the show-cause notice ended.

Stating that there has been a lapse in the exit of the 12 MLAs to the AITC, Ampareen said sub para 2 of para 4 of the Tenth Schedule clearly indicates that defection would only become effective if those who defect form a party and then merge with another political party.

She also said another area which we feel requires attention is the meritorious ground that there was no resignation, no discussion, and no dialogue with the parent party.

“We also feel along side the two-third which is a compulsory occurence for defection of this nature, there are other gray areas in the Tenth Schedule which gives us enough confidence to believe that all these areas where we feel that there was no justice in this breakaway group but in fact it is a big betrayal, it is a big let down to the party which elected or gave them an opportunity to be elected to the legislative assembly as representatives of different constituencies by the Congress which is the parent party,” she added.  

Ampareen said they are trying their level best to present a case on merit so that these kinds of defections will not continue to upset the political stability of the state of Meghalaya and the country as a whole.

The CLP leader also referred to Mukul’s allegation that the Congress was attempting to have a cock and bull story by filing petitions against only 10 of the 12 defecting MLAs, as “baseless and nonsensical comments”.

“We don’t want to react to baseless comments made by senior people who have benefited greatly from the Congress party in their entire tenure of service for the people of Meghalaya.

They may be free, they may feel free, they are free to comment as per their own wisdom but call this a ploy or call this an opportunity, it is just two sides of the same mirror, to X it could be seen as a ploy but to us this is our strength,” she stated.

She further added, “We feel that in any argument which was not consolidated in the first ten petitions, we would save for the last two petitions that are up to our wisdom and we stand by our wisdom. Their stand here can only be put forward in arguments when their petitions are heard. You cannot in silo already condemn a party which in any way you have deserted. (Therefore), we will not react to this kind of nonsensical comment.”

Stating that the law will prevail, Ampareen said, “We leave it to the wisdom of the Speaker.”

She however said it would be improper and incorrect for the CLP to presume the stand to be taken by the Speaker.

“We have left the petitions before (the Speaker) and hope the arguments and the points put forward by us would be taken into serious consideration and we hope this would yield a positive result,” she added.

When asked, the CLP leader said that the last two petitions have been duly modified to include more areas which would become more effective in a show cause notice scenario

“These kinds of defections had happened in other states as you have seen in the recent past but nowhere have you seen Congress rise and question wherever there were questions asked disqualification took effect. You have seen the disqualification of so many MLAs in so many states because they have not duly considered all procedures which are tagged to a two-third majority,” she said.

To another query, Ampareen said, “(Yes) you have an absolute two-third number but have you taken all necessary steps that will ensure that the two-third who have broken away will not face disqualification. That is a very simple thing,” adding “We have put forward our arguments very clear no ambiguity and we are confident that this would be the first step in a series of fights against individuals who have attempted to desert a party that has breath them, that has nurtured them and has made them who they are today in the political scenario in the state of Meghalaya.”

Stating that this entire political gimmick is getting out of hand, the CLP leader also appealed to the people of Meghalaya to take note of all the steps taken by the Congress to fight for its rights.