Khagre to visit Meghalaya to restructure State Congress

Congress President, Mallikarjun Kharge is set to visit Meghalaya next month as part of the party’s efforts to revive its fortunes in the hill state where the grand old party presently has zero representation in the Meghalaya Assembly, the first ever setback since 1972.
The state Congress unit is currently undergoing a restructuring process, with deliberations underway in Delhi to chart out the party’s future course.
The grand-old-party had been in the opposition or ruling in Meghalaya over the past five decades and the party had never missed to have elected MLAs in state assembly.
However, the Congress party’s decline in Meghalaya this time has been dramatic, as its three MLAs – Dr Celestine Lyngdoh, Gabriel Wahlang, and Charles Marngar – defected to the National People’s Party (NPP) in August 2024, leaving the party with just one legislator in the 60-member assembly.
Interestingly, the lone Congress MLA, Ronnie V. Lyngdoh also defected to the ruling NPP in July this year, rendering the party without representation in the assembly for the first time since Meghalaya attained its statehood in 1972.
The party’s downfall is attributed to its inability to prevent defections and provide effective leadership, reflecting a broader trend of weakening presence in the Northeast.
Kharge’s visit, expected to last two to three days, is seen as a significant event and a sign of the party’s commitment to reviving its fortunes in the state.
The Congress party’s restructuring efforts are viewed as a last-ditch attempt to reconnect with the people and regain its footing in Meghalaya.
“During his visit to Meghalaya, Khagre will meet state party leaders to discuss on the appointment of a new president of MPCC (Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee) and to restructure the state body in view of the forthcoming elections to the GHADC (Garo Hills Autonomous District Council),” a senior Congress leader said on condition of anonymity.
According to the Congress leader, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi had voiced his serious concerns over the defection of Congress MLAs to the NPP and the poor performance of the Congress in the February 2025 elections to the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council and Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council.