TURA, 30 Jan: A 48 hour deadline has been given to the revolting members of the Youth Congress in Tura to reply to a show cause lobbed at them for staging a protest and burning effigies of party leaders Vincent Pala and Deborah Marak on Friday.
The deadline for the show cause expires on January 30th evening.
Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee Secretary Sanjay Das issued the show cause from Shillong and it was directed at rebel youth congress leader Robert K Sangma who has been leading the members to stage a protest for the past couple of days demanding a review of the congress candidates selected for some of the controversial constituencies in Garo Hills.
The Youth Congress staged a dharna on Republic Day outside Congress Bhawan in Tura and later burnt the effigies of Pala, Deborah as well as North Tura candidate Billykid A Sangma and Gambegre candidate Saleng A Sangma.
Though the rebels have made a stand to reply to the show cause with their side of the story, there is also speculation that some of the protesting members will resign in disgust over the manner in which the party high command treated the situation.
“Instead of hearing our side of the story and the reasons why we are seeking accountability and clarification on the decision to select non-Congress members as candidates, the high command has treated us differently and given a show cause,” say the rebel members.
“We want answers as to why were candidates from opposition parties who worked against the Congress and have only now joined for tickets after being rejected by their own parties have been entertained in the place of genuine party workers who have been preparing their campaign field for the last one to two years?” asks Robert K Sangma, the rebel leader of the youth congress.
He terms these candidates who overnight became congress members as nothing short of “outsiders” who are taking advantage of the party hold in their respective constituencies to try and strike a victory. This, he said, was specifically being witnessed in the constituencies of Salmanpara, Gambegre and Kharkutta.
In Salmanpara, long time congress worker and grassroots leader Damrik K Sangma was replaced overnight by Sinbath Marak even though Damrik had been preparing the field for close to two years.
In Kharkutta, former MLA Omillo K Sangma and a woman aspirant were overlooked by newcomer Chireng Peter R Marak.
