Over 400 youth Congress workers resign in Meghalaya

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaDecember 3, 2021

A flurry of resignations has emerged within the Meghalaya Pradesh Youth Congress (MPYC) following the alleged arbitrary decision of the present leadership in the state to roll out a membership drive without consulting the youth wing.

Over 400 youth from Khasi and Jaintia Hills region led by the MPYC general secretary Fernandes S Dkhar tendered a mass resignation at the Congress Bhawan here on Friday.

The MPYC president Richard Marak also quit the party by tendering his resignation to the India Youth Congress (IYC) national president Srinivas BV.

Earlier, the Congress had witnessed a big jolt following the exodus of as many as 12 MLAs who joined the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC).

“We have taken a collective decision to tender a mass resignation as they did not consult us for the membership drive,” Dkhar told reporters.

He said they have tried to convey the message to the Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) chief Vincent H Pala, who despite assuring to look into the matter, till date have not taken any step to call all the frontal wings of the Congress.

“It is sad that we have to take this step but we are left with no option. We tried to convey our willingness to build the party but when our top leaders don’t appreciate it, we have no option but to tender our resignations,” he added.

Dkhar further alleged that without fixing the problems that are there in house, the present leadership however started calling people from all over to join the party.

“Whoever wants to join in the Airport also they will join, in the hotel also they will join without any prior discussion at the block level. Being a grassroot worker I know how grassroot workers feel when you ignore them,” he said.

Alleging that the new leadership has failed to follow the Constitution of the party on the membership drive, Dkhar said, “Someone who recently joined the Congress is also filing for presidentship (of the youth Congress). They did not follow the constitution which clearly states that one should be in the party for certain years to be eligible for the president post.”

The former MPYC general secretary further alleged the MPCC chief of trying to divide the three major tribes of Meghalaya.

“Now a days they also started this divisive policy,” he said adding “A person of his stature and being Congress president (he should have never mentioned) if you want a Garo chief minister, all Garos should vote for Congress or if you want a Khasi chief minister, all Khasi people should vote for the Congress.”

When asked, Dkhar said in fact Pala had agreed to support Charles Pyngrope as the MPCC president in line with the desire of all the MLAs and MDCs of the party.

“However, somewhere down the line he (Pala) suddenly changed his mind but (before taking the post to himself) he should have consulted the senior leaders in the state,” he added.

Further, the former youth leader also alleged Pala of enquiring about the financial position of the youth leaders. “The MPCC president had asked the NSUI state president how much money you have…For me if I want to do business I would rather quit politics and earn money,” he said.

Photo credit: Meghalayanews24.com