By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: It’s now final! ‘Strawberry man’ Leston Wanswett is the official nominee of the Shella Block Congress Committee (SBCC) to contest the upcoming 2013 Assembly election from Shella constituency.
Wanswett’s selection was the outcome of the election convened by the East Khasi Hills District Congress Committee to finalize the party candidate from Shella, the result of which was announced at Sohra on Saturday.
Actually, the ‘Strawberry Man’ had convincingly defeated his opponent — former DRDA project director Jropsing Nongkhlaw and young businessman Pynthymmaibor Chyne — who had also vied for the Congress party ticket to contest the upcoming election.
Out of the 1038 SBCC members who voted in the election which was held on January 6 last, Wanswett won a total number of 803 votes while Nongkhlaw could get only 208 votes while Chyne managed only 31 votes.
Speaking to reporters after his preliminary victory, Wanswett said that it is really satisfying to see that the members of the SBCC have reposed their confidence on him to contest from the party in the upcoming election.
“I hope I will be able to do justice to the expectations of my supporters by defeating a seasoned politician and former Chief Minister Dr Donkupar Roy who has represented the constituency for five consecutive terms,” the ‘Strawberry Man’ said.
Asked how bright his chances are of winning the election, Wanswett said it would not be an easy task to defeat a personality like Dr Roy. “However with the delimitation of the constituency and new variables thrown in there are many areas which are now been tagged with Shella constituency and the votes from these new areas would total to about 8000. Taking this new equation into consideration, the contest for the upcoming Assembly election would be an open one since there would no favourites,” he said.
When asked if he hoped that Nongkhlaw and Chyne would support him during his election campaign to ensure a Congress win this time from Shella constituency, Wanswett said that as disciplined members of the party he is confident that both would jointly work together for the party’s victory.
However, though Wanswett expressed confidence that his opponents would lend their support to him there are clear indications that this is not the end of the road for both Nongkhlaw and Chyne as they are still hoping that there would be a twist to this whole episode when the party high command takes a final call on the candidates who would contest from the party in all the 60 constituencies.
“I have been made to understand by senior party leaders that this is only a pre-selection exercise. If so then the high command can always opt for a new candidate after taking an overview of the situation on the allocation of the party tickets,” Nongkhlaw said.
Even Chyne said that this is not final. “Wait and watch there could be many surprises in the coming months. Despite the recommendations of the SBCC, the party high command can always opt for a new candidate who has better chances of winning the election. The ticket can still go to any of the three aspirants once the party high command comes up with the final list of candidates who would contest from the party in the upcoming election,” he said.
Interestingly, East Khasi Hills District Congress Committee general secretary Kloss Khongiong who made the announcement of the result also stated that this is only a pre-selection exercise.
“The party would want a candidate who will win the election from Shella Constituency,” Khongiong said.
Earlier on Saturday, Sohra Block Congress Committee and Mylliem Block Congress Committee had respectively nominated sitting legislator Dr PW Khongjee and Ronnie V Lyngdoh as the nominee from the Block Congress to contest from Sohra and Mylliem constituencies respectively.
Both Mylliem and Sohra had no pre-selection since both the constituencies have a sitting party legislator.