Former minister and senior Congress member, K. Konngam Konyak has said that the “suspension from the Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee by K. Therie has not affected him in any manner, whatsoever”.
Regardless of Therie’s action (NPCC president), in a press note, Konngam said he has been and shall always remain a Congress man, adding, “Therie cannot stop me from being a Congress man”.
Konngam said he had started his political career in 1974 as a youth leader of NNO party from 44 A/C Phomching and till date he has been a Congressman after NNO merged with the Congress.
Taking a dig, he said Therie as a minister under the then chief minister, S.C. Jamir, was made to step down and later expelled from the Congress party. He then joined NPF and was made a minister under former chief minister, Neiphiu Rio.
“Not surprisingly, Therie was made to step down from the ministry and later expelled from NPF party as well”, he stated. He went on to say that even in the days to come, Therie would be expelled from whatever post he held. Konngam said he contested and won elections with Congress ticket in 1989, 1993, 1998, 2003, and 2008 and had represented his constituency for five consecutive terms.
While stating that he held no grudge towards Congress party, Konngam reiterated that he would remain a loyalist.
He however went on to take on Therie, accusing him of “luring Congress leaders to join BJP recently”.
“He is still a Congress member just because he is made the president of the NPCC. Otherwise, he would be a BJP member by now”, Konngam alleged. In this regard, Konngam said he wanted to know– “who is a real Congress party worker, Mr. Therie or me?”
Though suspended, Konngam said he would remain as a Congress member. He was however doubtful of Therie, saying he “will leave the party sooner than later. Time will be the witness”.