From Ronald Stone Syiem
NONGSTOIN: Ranikor Asembly Constituency of West Khasi Hills is all set to witness a close contest among the three chief competitors during the upcoming Assembly elections in 2013.
The triangular battle is expected to be fought among sitting MLA and former assembly speaker Martin M.Danggo of the Congress, NCP’s Cornesius Nongbri and former state minister and ex-CEM KHADC Probin K Raswai of the UDP.
Raswai could have an edge given his past experience in the field of administration and legislature and his cause could receive impetus in wake of the recent ‘internal tiff’ among the Congress workers of the constituency which resulted in some of them shifting allegiancy to UDP.
The UDP high command has already finalized the candidature of Raswai who was elected to power for two consecutive tenures (1988 and 1993) with Congress ticket. In 2003 he contested with an NCP ticket but lost the elections.
However, Ranikor is considered a stronghold of Danggo, who has won the last three elections here. Danggo contested for the first time in 1998 with a PDM ticket and defeated P.K.Raswai, then INC, by a margin of 124 votes. Later he joined Congress which he continues to serve till date.
Raswai (UDP), who has changed party several times, is considered unstable as far as political allegiance is concerned. However, lack of development in the constituency under the sitting MLA, Danggo, could work in the UDP candidate’s favour.
“The public want a change and are likely to cast their votes for the candidate who has developmental issues high on the agenda,” sources said.
Debutant, NCP’s Nongbri, a retired banker, has also been successful in getting some of the Danggo supporters in his camp and could prove to be a gamechanger towards the end. All these sum up for an exciting contest in 2013.
