Cong discipline will guide legislators in Meghalaya: Lapang

Shillong, May 18 (PTI): With some ruling Congress leaders in Meghalaya openly revolting against the party, state PCC chief D D Lapang today said party discipline will guide its legislators so that they do not work against it.

State power minister Sniawbhalang Dhar was recently alleged to have openly revolted against the party by announcing a candidate against his own cabinet colleague and deputy chief minister, R C Laloo.

Jowai Block Congress Committee (JBCC) sought the dropping of Dhar for his alleged anti-party activities.

He had openly declared putting up a candidate against Laloo at his constituency in West Jaintia Hills District constituency and asked the people to support his candidate. Asked whether the party would recommend dropping the minister, Lapang said, “I have not seen the paper (complaint of JBCC) and it is too early for me to comment on this. We will go according to the merit of the case.

“We have got such reports of anti-party activities by other MLAs. Let those grumbling send their report to us in the same way (like JBCC).” The state is scheduled to go to the poll in 2018 and there are allegations that many sitting MLAs of the party could move out ahead of the 2018 polls.

Lapang said “I don t believe it (that some MLAs are going to contest from other parties) because rumours come through newspapers which I cannot take as the gospel truth. He said that sitting legislators would be given priority while distributing party tickets. “This is because nothing (against them) is in the record as of now,” he said.

Recently, various block Congress committees have urged the MPCC to declare the list of candidates to ensure that they have enough time to prepare for the state assembly election.

“We have to observe certain formalities. Therefore we are going to do as what we have done in all elections,” he said when asked to comment on it.

Congress, he said, has enrolled 2.62 lakh members both renewal and fresh people.

“Enrolment is still going on. It may go up to 10 lakh as people are rushing to Congress,” he claimed.