Strategy by Cong will not work

SHILLONG, JAN 13: People Democratic Front (PDF) leader and former Congress legislator from Mawsynram Pynshngain N Syiem today said fielding of ex-bureaucrats and engineers will not help the Congress win in the upcoming Assembly polls.

“Former bureaucrats and engineers have absolutely no political and social background so they will not win as they have no close relationship with the people at the grassroot,” Syiem told reporters after the PDF’s general conference meeting held here on Saturday.

He was reacting to the claims of the ruling Congress that it has got better candidates in the constituencies represented by its former sitting legislators, who left the party and joined other political parties for re-election ahead of the upcoming Assembly polls.

Altogether seven former legislators of the Congress have resigned as members of the current ninth Meghalaya Legislative Assembly.

Apart from Syiem, the others include former deputy chief minister Rowel Lyngdoh, three former ministers – Prestone Tynsong, Comingone Ymbon, Sniawbhalang Dhar – and Ngaitlang Dhar have joined the NPP and AL Hek also a former minister joined the BJP.

From Mawsynram, a strong bastion of Syiem, the Congress is fielding former IAS officer Himalaya Shangpliang. Similarly, the Congress is putting up a former bureaucrat and an engineer in constituencies (Nartiang and Umroi) represented by the Dhar’s brother.

Stating that this strategy of the Congress will not have any impact in the upcoming polls, Syiem said, “I tell you it will not work because we need law makers and not engineers. The Congress is just making claims for something that will never happen.”

Reacting to a query, the PDF chairman and also chief ministerial candidate of the party said that the fight is there with the Congress nominee from his constituency.

“However, now he (Shangpliang) is on the down swing,” he said while expressing confidence that he would retain the seat in the upcoming elections.

By Our Reporter