Mukul along with Garo MLAs skip Vincent Pala taking over MPCC chief

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaSeptember 18, 2021

Congress legislature party (CLP) leader Mukul Sangma along with other legislators from Garo Hills region have yet again skipped another important function of the MPCC to welcome and feliticate the Shillong MP Vincent H Pala as its new president.

The function held at the state convention centre on Saturday was attended by All India Congress Committee (AICC) in-charge Meghalaya Manish Chatrath, AICC secretary in-charge Meghalaya Victor Keishing besides MLAs, MDCs and party functionaries.

On September 16, Mukul Sangma and MLAs from Garo Hills did not attend the function organized by the MPCC to welcome five prominent political leaders including former home minister RG Lyngdoh and Pynshngain N Syiem.

Addressing the occasion, Pala said that there is nothing to hide about the absence of the CLP leader.

“Maybe he (Mukul) is not happy with me but I will take him into confidence as long as it is humanly possible I will do my job,” he told everybody at the gathering.

Pala was felicitated by the outgoing president of the party and former legislator Dr Celestine Lyngdoh.

While speaking to journalists after taking charge as MPCC chief, the Shillong MP said that he would definitely reach out to the former chief minister.

“I will take the guidance of Dr Celestine Lyngdoh and others, I will definitely meet him (Mukul),” he added.

Pala said in fact soon after his appointment was announced, he flew all the way from Delhi to Shillong to meet Mukul but couldn’t due to the Assembly’s autumn session which concluded on Friday.

“So definitely it is my job, I will try to meet him. He used to be a dear friend of mine, a senior leader, it may not be against me, it may not be against him also, it may be against anybody also – definitely I will see as it is too early to say…But his absence today I think I should be transparent to everybody and it is my job as I always considered him as the Boss in the party and as a friend,” he said.

When asked, Pala however said legislators from Garo Hills are mostly Mukul’s family and friends. “Naturally if he is not there, others are also not (going to be) there. It is an open fact.”

He however said that the other day MLA Marthon Sangma came and today former legislator Deborah Sangma came adding “I think there is something that is why I told you we will try to see that things are in order.”

Pala also assured that whenever he would take decision he would take the opinion of Dr Mukul as CLP leader and other leaders from Garo Hills including former chief minister Salseng Marak.

“(However) see only Mukul Sangma, Zenith Sangma, Pala, Dr Celestine will not do, we have to take everybody (into consideration),” he added.