I am not going back to Cong: Rymbai
SHILLONG: Strange are the ways of political leaders who despite remaining in one political party are campaigning for the candidates of other political parties in the KHADC elections.
Former Congress leader J D Rymbai, who is currently a member of North East Social Democratic Party, is campaigning for Congress candidate Victor Ranee for Jirang.
“I am not joining Congress, but I am helping Ranee who is my friend”, Rymbai said over phone on Saturday.
Rymbai had resigned from Congress prior to the Assembly elections in 2008 after he disliked the Congress party following his ouster from the Chief Ministership by Congress leader DD Lapang and his loyalists.
In fact Rymabi who also quit the UDP prior to 2013 elections and did not contest in the last elections had also helped Lamboklang Mylliem to win the Jirang Assembly seat from the newly formed North East Social Democratic Party.
Mylliem is also campaigning for Ranee to ensure his victory in the upcoming council elections.
According to Rymbai, Ranee who has stronghold in Byrnihat was his strong supporter from the very beginning and he wanted to campaign for him to show his gratitude.
“We came to know that Ranee is planning to contest from Congress and later he resigned from North East Social Democratic Party. We are not joining the Congress but are supporting him to repay for his sincerity”, Rymbai said.
The former Chief Minister indicated if Ranee wins the council elections, Mylliem may also join Congress. However, Rymbai made it clear that he has not decided to rejoin the Congress since he had already quit the Congress, UDP and also decided to abstain from active politics.
On the other hand, the sitting legislator and candidate for Mawkynrew, Remingtone Pyngrope from UDP has got support from the Congress party.
Congress leader from Mawkynrew, Drola Khongjoh who contested the last Assembly elections from Mawkynrew constituency is now with Pyngrope, leaving the official nominee of Congress.
Khongjoh and his supporters were seen together with Pyngrope when the latter filed the nominations on Friday.
There are reports that the Block Congress is unhappy after the party gave ticket to Banteidor Lyngdoh who had contested the 2013 elections as Independent.