Meghalaya: Congress leader Charles Pyngrope ready to take over as State Party President

SHILLONG | AUG 07, 2020:

Senior Congress leader, Charles Pyngrope today said that he is ready to take over as the president of the Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) if the Party High Command deems him fit to take up the job.

"Yes, I am ready to take up the job since I am presently serving as the district president of Shillong city and AICC secretary in charge of Manipur. I don't feel taking this responsibility will have any major burden on my present situation. One must remember when you take any leadership role you must fulfill it to the best of your ability. We must remember that you are doing the job for the party and not for yourself," Pyngrope, who is also the party MLA from Nongthymmai constituency, told reporters here on Friday.

He further informed that there was a discussion with the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader, Dr. Mukul Sangma, and a few of the MLAs had expressed their opinion on the need to bring about change in the leadership of the party.

The senior Congress leader also informed that this was discussed in the CLP meeting held on June 17 last where all the MLAs of the party were present, adding that a letter was also written to AICC president, Sonia Gandhi in this regard.

ALSO READ: Meghalaya reports sixth COVID-19 death; three more doctors, nurse test positive

ALSO READ: Meghalaya: Ampareen questions Govt for "failure" to assist residents in containment areas

The senior Congress MLA also said that the election of the state's president is held every three years adding that there was a change of the party president on a few occasions because of the "extraordinary" circumstances.

He said that it is not very clear whether it is the voice of some of the MLAs or it could be the voice of the party members. "Whether it is a consensus, we don't know. We will only know when the party high command takes a decision. If the high command feels that the present leadership can still go on, so be it," Pyngrope said.

When asked about the speculations that the Congress party is in disarray, he said that the party is not disarrayed, and if there is such a situation, then everybody would have gone their own ways.

"Since they are together and this issue of change in the party leadership has surfaced, everyone feels that much can be done to strengthen the party for the years to come and looking forward to the forthcoming elections of 2023," he said.

ALSO WATCH: 

To a question on how will the party ensure that the MLAs do not defect to other parties, Pyngrope said that he will not be able to comment on this question.

"But if I am the party president then it will be my duty to ensure that the MLAs do not leave the party. I have a plan and that plan will be unfolded once I assume the responsibility as the president of the MPCC," senior Congress leader added.