Leaders can't be changed often, says Congress

Shillong, Sep 16 (PTI) Setting at rest all speculations of a fresh bout of "internal conflict" within the Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) for yet another change in leadership, senior AICC member Sudha Joshi made it categorical that the party was against any such move.

"There should be no change in leadership every now and then," she said, adding that enough time must be given to the person at the helms of affairs.

Joshi, who is a former MP and currently chairman of the Congress Pradesh Election Authority of Meghalaya, said this in presence of chief minister Mukul Sangma and newly elected MPCC president Friday Lyngdoh at the Congress Bhavan here today.

The senior AICC functionary oversaw party elections here today which resulted in Friday Lyngdoh, who represents the Mawkhar Assembly Constituency becoming president of the MPCC for the second consecutive term without any opposition.

Former chief minister DD Lapang, MLAs Comingone Ymbon, Ronnie V Lyngdoh, Fonder Strong Cajee, former MLA Zenith M Sangma and Diverland Lyngdoh were elected as AICC members.

Lok Sabha representative from Shillong and Union minister of state for water resources was elected treasurer while MLAs Augustine D Marak, Lahkmen Rymbui and former MLA KK Dkhar were elected vice presidents.

Chief minister Mukul Sangma, deputy chief minister Rowell Lyngdoh, home minister HDR Lyngdoh, Speaker Charles Pyngrope and MLAs Shitlang Pale and PW Muktieh were elected members of the Election Committee of the MPCC.

Meanwhile, chief minister Mukul Sangma said the party members were working in "coherence" in the State even as he pointed out that the just-concluded party elections adhered to 33 per cent reservation for women.