Cong suspends Lyngdoh for ‘anti-party statements’

The DAC had recommended Lyngdoh’s expulsion, but the Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) decided to place him under suspension for six years.

The suspension notice was served to Lyngdoh late Monday night. He told The Indian Express on Tuesday: “It is sad that the party doesn’t listen to constructive criticism, but wants to suppress it.”

Lyngdoh said he was voicing the sentiment of many party workers who were against the interference by the party high command in every issue in the state. Lyngdoh said that the Congress has failed to feel the pulse of the people and that is why instead of “introspecting” on issue raised by party workers, the leaders chose to silence them either by suspending or “expelling” them.

“I hope the suspension has nothing to do with the party announcement earlier that I would be its candidate for the Lok Sabha election,” he added. Lyngdoh is known to be critical of party leaders whenever he felt that a mistake was committed. He was, in fact, seen as the Congress leader who would eventually displace former chief minister D D Lapang and give the party the much-needed vitality in Meghalaya. Lapang and many senior Congress leaders didn’t see Lyngdoh eye to eye as they considered him a threat to their leadership.

After the March Assembly polls disaster and the defeat in the Tura Lok Sabha by-election to NCP, Lyngdoh’s ouster from the Congress is expected to further weaken the party in Khasi and Jaintia Hills.