Shillong, Dec 5: Youth Congress leader Banphira Basaiawmoit on Saturday referred to the mass resignation led by former leaders of the Meghalaya Pradesh Youth Congress (MPYC) as a “drama”.

“The main reason why they (former leaders) left the party is because they know there is a threat to their position in the party and that is why they are creating this drama,” Basaiawmoit told journalists.

The former president of MPYC East Khasi Hills was reacting to the allegations made by former MPYC general secretary Fernandes S Dkhar, who along with over 400 youth workers resigned on Friday.

Informing that the MPYC is in the process of electing its new body, Basaiawmoit however said, “If we go by what was stated (by Fernandes), that number of resignations was 400 members but they know fully well that is not enough to win the election.”

Fernandes is one among the candidates who had also filed nomination for the post of MPYC president.

“To win an election, each candidate has to enroll at least 2,000 – 3,000 of active members,” he said.

Stating that the former leaders may take up more activities in the coming day, Basaiawmoit, who is also in the race for the president’s post, however, said the youth Congress will continue to work on the many pressing issues instead of diverting its attention to such dramas.

He said that the unemployment rate in Meghalaya is alarming. “According to reports that we got for 2019-20, the unemployment rate among educated youth who have finished their secondary schooling is at 4.63 per cent, for higher secondary -10.53 percent, graduates – 16.56 percent, post graduate – 19.7 percent,” he added.

“We are now ranked as the 5th poorest state in India and worse, we are the poorest state in the NE region. These are the pressing issues that we as youth Congress will have to work on, will have to work for the state, for the welfare of our families and we have to ensure we as a state contribute to the nation as well,” Basaiawmoit further asserted.

Also claiming that the Congress is having a healthy supply of leaders, he said, “If anyone says that Congress is weakened right now, I know they are wrong. If they have stopped talking about the Congress, stop thinking about the Congress, they do so at their own peril.”

According to him, so far 20,000 youth have already enrolled as members of the youth Congress and the membership drive will continue till December 12.

Notwithstanding the recent exodus of 12 MLAs to the All India Trinamool Congress, Basaiawmoit further maintained that the blocks are intact.

“We have people in the Congress and through them we will reach out to the grassroot and revamp the party,” he said.

He added that they cannot look back at who left as new leaders are coming in and they will build the party and ensure we stay strong.

“Let us not talk about who left, let us not talk about who are leaving, as we know for sure we will redefine the future of Meghalaya, we will define the Meghalaya we want, which is prosperous, where unemployment is not an issue anymore and a Meghalaya where youth get a platform to showcase – that is what we stand for,” Basaiawmoit further asserted.