SHILLONG, SEP 20: Opposition Congress chief Vincent H Pala announced that several former MLAs and ministers are likely to rejoin the party in the near future. He highlighted that despite many leaders having left the party, a significant number are now seeking to return.
Speaking to Mediapersons, Pala stated, “There is no denying the fact that many MLAs left, but there’s also no denying that many of them want to come back as of today.”
Reflecting on the defections, the former Shillong MP said, “Twelve MLAs left the Congress to join TMC, but how many of them stayed with the TMC? Many went on to join the UDP, NPP, and other parties. When they left Congress, they blamed me, but when they left TMC, who did they blame? One MLA switched between three parties in a year—whom will they hold accountable? It’s not fair to blame me. The truth is, Congress in the opposition does not serve their personal interests. But we are here to serve the people, not individual ambitions.”
Pala criticized the political opportunism of leaders frequently changing parties, saying, “We’ve all been tempted with offers—jobs, roads—but if you lose your ideology and ethics, you lose everything in politics. Today, they are with TMC, tomorrow with UDP, and the day after with BJP. What will they have left? Nothing.”
He further revealed that a meeting is scheduled in South West Khasi Hills on October 11-12, where some leaders will rejoin the party. “It’s not proper for me to name anyone in advance, as they are yet to resign and officially join. But I can guarantee you that many of them will return,” Pala affirmed.
Addressing concerns about his leadership, Pala remarked, “I don’t surrender. In Arunachal, when the party collapsed after election losses, I did not give up. Whether people leave or stay, I continue to work for the party. Under my leadership, Tura’s parliamentary seat came back to Congress after many decades.”
He also rejected claims of being unpopular, citing Congress’s strong vote share in Meghalaya, saying, “When I lost, it wasn’t unceremonious. We had the highest vote share in Meghalaya. How can you call me the most unpopular?”