Govt to utilize services of 5 Congress MLAs: Tynsong

“They (Congress MLAs) are in the ruling side now. The Chief Minister is the person who will tell you exactly about their assignment. Of course why not, we need to utilize their services properly as we need their services for the interest of the state,” Tynsong said when asked about their role in the upcoming Assembly’s budget session, which will commence from March 4.

Referring to Congress MLAs as “creams” of the MDA government, he said, “All the five are good, constructive and productive elected representatives – all are good creams. In few days from now we will also utilize their expertise well in the government.”

When asked about their identity in the Assembly following their suspension, Tynsong, who is also in-charge of Parliamentary Affairs department, said that legally speaking, all the five are still Congress MLAs.

“When suspension is still continuing, they are still Congress MLAs,” he added.

He however said if expulsion takes place, the Congress MLAs will immediately become Independent MLAs but they cannot join other political parties.

Tynsong further clarified that since they are under suspension, the question of merging does not arise while reacting to speculations that the five Congress MLAs may merge with the ruling National People’s Party ahead of 2023 Assembly polls.

“They are all elected representatives, they know the rules, they know the act so therefore, the moment the suspension order came out means they are with Congress and they will not move out from the party and they cannot even merge to any party at this present situation,” he said.

Whether the pending case related to the education job scam, against Congress leader Ampareen Lyngdoh will not be a burden for the MDA government, the deputy chief minister however said one cannot mix up between the case and the support extended to the government.

“A case is a case. Don’t mix up between a case and the support they have given to the government. This is a different issue altogether. When she was education minister yes a case was there and the case is still on so leave that aside. But now again she was reelected in 2018 and she is still MLA till now and all five MLAs decided to support the MDA government and we welcome all of them,” he said.

He also maintained that the support given by the five Congress legislators was totally unconditional after being satisfied with the performance of the MDA government in the past four years.

According to him, the MDA government has taken up a few sensitive and important issues like Them Iew Mawlong and boundary issues.

“These two long pending issues, the public were saying that this is only a game of the government but when they see in the course of time that the MDA government is seriously taking up these issues then these five Congress MLAs they were impressed and ultimately they give us unconditional support,”Tynsong stated.

The Congress had suspended the five legislators – Ampareen Lyngdoh, PT Sawkmie, Mayral Born Syiem, Kimfa S Marbaniang and Mohendro Rapsang, on the ground that they have extended to a BJP-backed MDA government, which is anti-party.

To this, the deputy chief minister said the question of whether BJP is backing the government or not does not arise.

“We formed the MDA government with different political parties and the present setup will continue till the end of the term. In addition to this, the latest news is that five MLAs from Congress have also joined the MDA government which I personally feel is a very good sign for the MDA government as well as for the five Congress MLAs who decided to support the government,” he added.

If the Congress’ decision would do more damage to the party, Tynsong said he would stick to his statement that Congress is completely a sinking ship.

“Not very long ago, I have already given my statement very clearly, please jump out of the sinking ship and I think it has happened (when the 12 MLAs joined AITC but not the five Congress MLAs),” he said.

Tynsong further maintained that the people of the state will be the best judge as far as the prospect of the Congress in 2023 is concerned.

“I don’t know how many constituencies they can set up the candidates, I think MPCC will be able to tell you,” he said.

By Our Reporter