Shillong, Sept 16: Former Home Minister Robert Garnett Lyngdoh has stated that Congress holds the ‘advantage’ for the 2023 Assembly elections but making use of this ‘advantage’ needs lot of soul searching.

Speaking at the meeting to welcome him back to the Congress party on Thursday, Lyngdoh said, “It is definitely with us but will we be able to take advantage of it or will we throw it away…that is something we need to do a lot of soul searching and thinking about.”

Exuding confidence that Congress will come back to power in 2023 if it can get its house in order, he said one of the reasons for this confidence is because Shillong MP and newly appointed MPCC president Vincent H. Pala is a team player.The meeting also welcomed former KHADC chief PN Syiem along with three other leaders.

Lyngdoh also stated that he has never strayed and was always with the Congress. “You can say I was a silent partner but now I will be more of a vocal partner and a proactive partner,” he said.

Reasons for return to active politics

On his reasons for coming back to active politics, he said,
“One of the reasons perhaps that besides Vincent coming, Ampareen and my siblings pushing me is seeing what is really happening in the capital and across the state, the amount of misgovernance that is happening and the way our people have suffered prompted me to play a more active role.”

Second line of command

He pointed out that one of the reasons why the Congress doesn’t have a second line of command is because whoever is in command is more interested in getting rid of the congregation than encouraging the second line in command.

“Let’s call a spade a spade,” he stated.

Lyngdoh is known to be vocal about issues in the State whether he’s in the government or not, and doesn’t eschew his words when he chooses to speak.