Veteran Congress leader, DD Lapang who was recently relieved of the state Congress president post, said that the decision to replace him, as well as his decision not to contest the upcoming Assembly polls would not affect the party.
Few days back, Lapang was replaced by Congress MLA, Celestine Lyngdoh as president of the Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC).
Lapang, the former chief minister, who represented Nongpoh constituency since 1972 till date and lost the elections only in 1993, has decided not to contest the upcoming elections from Nongpoh but projected political novice, Mayralborn Syiem as the candidate.
Lapang told reporters at his residence on Tuesday that he had already consulted with AICC leaders including Congress president, Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi about his position in the party as well as his decision not to contest the Assembly polls.
“I was appointed as advisor to the MPCC and the decision to relieve me from the president post was a right decision which was done after due consultations,” Lapang said.
Lapang said considering his age and health, the workload would be heavy especially when elections are coming not only MLA elections, but Lok Sabha elections, as well as district council elections in 2019. “It may not be possible for me to attend to responsibilities especially touring the length and breadth of the state as party president,” Lapang opined.
The veteran leader however expressed confidence that the Congress would come back to power in the upcoming elections as other parties would not be able to come together as they would have “bundles of contradictions” among them especially during government formation.
Lapang also slammed Congress deserters including former Congress minister, Prestone Tynsong who accused chief minister Mukul Sangma of not consulting before taking important cabinet decisions.
“Why did Tynsong keep silence as a senior cabinet minister, when such things happened in the cabinet? Why he raised his voice only after he was dropped? Tynsong was in fact praising the chief minister as the leader,” Lapang said.
He also said that the party is united after some people have left the party and would field new faces from the constituencies of former Congress legislators, adding that new faces are emerging as strong contenders.