By Eric Calvin Ranee
NONGPOH: In a new political twist to the political battle Jirang Assembly Constituency, former Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) deputy chief executive member William Mynsong withdrew from the race of seeking ticket from the Congress party and has instead decided to support Barnabas Nangbah the candidate projected by Union Minister of State for Water Resources and Minority Affairs Vincent Pala in his alleged ongoing clandestine politicking.
According to party sources, Pala went to Mynsong’s residence to convince him to pull out from the race and support Nangbah. After much deliberation Mynsong agreed to support Nongbah but on condition that Pala and Nangbah support him in the forthcoming MDC elections, the sources added.
Talking to this scribe, Mynsong said, “I have taken the decision to withdraw from the race in consultation with Pala and also conveyed to MPCC President DD Lapang my wholeheartedly support to Nangbah.”
Sources disclosed that Pala has taken Nangbah to every nook and corner of Jirang constituency and introduced him as a candidate for the forthcoming election to many grassroots leaders and supporters of the party.
However, Nangbah would still have to compete for the party ticket with Lambok Mylliemngap, son of businessman Modrick Nongkynrih who is also vying for ticket from the Congress.
Mylliemngap claims to have the support of the adhoc body of the Jirang Block Congress Committee (JBCC) which was constituted after the previous body headed by Mynsong was controversially dissolved by supporters of Mylliemngap.
Meanwhile, Mylliemngap has already started his campaign for the forthcoming assembly elections and has also invested in a big way to woo INC grassroots leaders and supporters in his favour.
Meanwhile, the United Democratic Party (UDP) is still indecisive about whom to allot the party ticket to from Jirang constituency. They are debating between W Lapang and P Thangkhiew as former Chief Minister and sitting MLA JD Rymbai has decided to quit active politics.
Sources close to the UDP leadership revealed that Thangkhiew is most likely to get the ticket for the Jirang Constituency.
Another candidate is former RBYF president of Byrnihat Circle S Sohtun who is contesting from the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). Sohtun has already made significant inroads into the constituency.
However, he suffered a major blow as the NCP Jirang Block Committee president Indriss Maring resigned from the party with his supporters after he was denied the party ticket. Maring is now likely to join the Congress.
It is learnt that Jimberly Marak an aspirant for the NCP ticket is trying to get a ticket from the Trinamool Congress (TMC).
It is also learnt that the electorate of Jirang Constituency have expressed their desire to have a local resident of Jirang as their MLA thereby making it difficult for both Mylliemngap and Nongbah as both are outsiders.
Party observers said the battlefield is an open one and it is anybody’s game but they feel that Sohtun might emerge winner since those who are denied tickets by the Congress and UDP might queer the pitch.
Political observers say that Rymbai will support Mylliemngap and not the UDP candidate as his son and Mylliemngap are business partners.