Cong shortlist forty five, keeps on hold fourteen names

Shillong, Nov 21: Kick starting its preparation for the forthcoming February 2013 assembly election, the Meghalaya unit of the Congress shortlisted forty five names, formed a committee to decide on the candidature of eight constituencies and kept in abeyances the process of short listing the remaining six constituencies for the sixty members Meghalaya assembly.

The shortlisted candidate names will now be sent to the Congress party Central Election Committee (CEC) for clearance.

Meghalaya chief minister and Congress leaders told reporters after the meeting of the Congress’ Pradesh Election Committee(PEC) attended by AICC general secretary and party in-charge of Meghalaya Dr. Dhaniram Shandil and  AICC secretary Sanjay Bapana, “We were able to shortlisted the names for 46 assembly constituencies. The whole exercise revolved around the winability of the aspirants.”

The committee scrutinized application from 149 aspirants for the Congress tickets.  Sangma revealed that the PEC has kept in abeyance the six constituencies for some other reasons and the other eight constituencies candidature will be decided by a panel.”

When inquired about the allocation of party ticket to all the twenty- seven sitting legislators- Augustine Marak is not contesting-  Sangma said, “This aspect is confidential and cannot be disclosed the names of the candidates will be announced at an appropriate and advantageous time.”

Sangma is also hoping that the Congress will get a single party majority as Meghalaya never had a single party getting the majority.

Shandil and Bapana said that their purpose was to see that the names recommended by the PEC are taken to the CEC and are announced in a reasonably good time so that the candidates have enough time to prepare themselves for the election.

Even as Shandil agreed that Meghalaya should encourage participation of more women in the election, he, however, said, “A time will come in Meghalaya that sufficient number of women will be contesting in the elections.”-By Our Reporter