By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The UDP is facing a huge dilemma in deciding on the candidate for Nongthymmai constituency since there are two major contenders for the ticket. However, party sources say that the party will finally look at the winnability factor.
The two contenders are the sitting MDC from Nongthymmai Latiplang Kharkongor and Dr Jemino Mawthoh who had contested the 2008 Assembly election from Malki-Nongthymmai on an NCP ticket.
It would not be easy for the party to decide who to allot the ticket to since both Kharkongor and Mawthoh has got the backing of the two working presidents of the party, Paul Lyngdoh and Bindo M Lanong, respectively.
Paul Lyngdoh is fully support Kharkongor (former MDC of KHNAM) Party insiders say that the former KHNAM chief will go out of his way to ensure that Kharkongor gets the ticket.
It may be recalled that the Nongthymmai sitting MDC had backed up Lyngdoh for the merger of KHNAM with the UDP despite opposition from a group of KHNAM leaders who were opposed to the merger.
Mawthoh on the other hand has got the backing of Lanong. With Lanong being the president of the UDP Shillong City, Mawthoh definitely has an edge since he (Lanong) would be playing a major role in the allotment of tickets for constituencies within Shillong city.
But it would be interesting to see how Lanong uses his clout to ensure that Mawthoh gets the ticket.
The UDP State Election Committee (SEC) meeting is scheduled to be held on June 12 to release the second list of candidates. It would be interesting to watch the battle royale between Lanong and Lyngdoh, although party workers believe this is a battle of attrition for the party.
When contacted, UDP president Dr Donkupar Roy said that he cannot comment on this matter since it has not reached the State Election Committee (SEC) as yet.
Roy said that the matter for allotment of the party ticket is being taken up at the constituency level before it is placed before the SEC for it to take a final call.