Two Congress leaders join UDP
By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: In what can be termed as a double delight for UDP working president Paul Lyngdoh two senior Congress leaders from Jaiaw have decided to join the UDP in support of the former KHNAM supremo.
The two senior Congress leaders – former Jaiaw MDC Martamlin Pyrbot and former MPCC treasurer Maya Kyndiah – formally joined the UDP on Saturday.
Pyrbot had actually defeated Lyngdoh in the 2004 District Council election. With the two senior Congress leaders supporting him, it would be a major boost for the UDP working president’s election campaign as he is scheduled to contest from 18-Shillong West constituency in the upcoming 2013 Assembly election.
Speaking to reporters during a reception ceremony for Pyrbot and Kyndiah, Lyngdoh said that it is time that the people gave the regional parties a chance to rule the State.
“We cannot allow parties like the Congress which are being remote controlled from Delhi to continue to rule the State. We have seen enough of the Congress party’s misrule,” the UDP working president said.
Taking a dig at the Congress, Lyngdoh said that it was really strange that a man from Delhi, who does not even know the exact location of Pinewood Hotel, takes the final decision on allotment of party tickets for far flung constituencies like Pynursla and Mawphlang.
“I am informed that the Congress is giving tickets even to those people who sell dry fish and other commodities at Iewduh. Many people are unhappy after winning on a Congress ticket. Since the day they seek the party ticket they have to pay to the various units of the party including the MPCC. After they get the ticket, they have to invest lot money in the election. This is not the end since they also have pay money to get a ministerial berth after winning the election,” Lyngdoh added.
Speaking at the function, Pyrbot said that he had first started his political career by contesting the State Assembly election on a BJP ticket. After that, he had been associated with the HSPDP, Congress and finally with the UDP, he added.
He said that the main reason behind his decision to join the UDP was to support the former KHNAM president.
“I want Lyngdoh to win the 2013 Assembly election since he has a lot of potential to contribute to the State,” Pyrbot added.
While maintaining that she had nothing to say against the Congress, Kyndiah said that he had joined the UDP only to support the UDP working president ahead of the 2013 Assembly election.