From Our Correspondent
NONGSTOIN: Mawshynrut Assembly Constituency in West Khasi Hills district is slowly developing into a prestigious seat with as many as 11 potential candidates in the fray for the 2013 Assembly polls next year.
Out of these, five alone are from the Congress including Mawshynrut Block Congress Committee president Robert Dkhar. Most candidates are hopeful of strengthening their support base with a Congress ticket in their kitty. In Mawshynrut AC, the Congress has delivered two consecutive wins in the last two Assembly elections.
Sitting Congress legislator Francis Pondit R Sangma’s decision to contest the next election from a different constituency (Rongwara-Siju) has also added to the interl contest among the Congress ticket aspirants.
However, the decade-long rule of the Congress in the constituency has seen little or no development at all, sources from the constituency have said. After 10 years of neglect, voters of the area now feel that development in the area can be ushered in only when a local candidate represents them.
Two candidates have emerged as the favourite of the people – Witting Mawsor (HSPDP) and Methodius Dkhar (Congress).
Both these candidates are local to the area and have been able to win the support of the people. Both the candidates are young and energetic and understand the problems of the area. Both of them have also been aiding people with their activities, sources say.
Witting’s uncle Roland Mawsor is also set to try his fortunes as an Independent candidate, which is likely to affect Witting Mawsor’s prospects.
“Methodius has donated generously to the CHC at Riangdo, he has also hired playgrounds to uplift the sport in Mawshynrut area. More importantly, he has connected Pormawlai village by constructing a 2 km road, something that even the sitting MLA did not do. Also he has financially helped the construction of the Presbyterian and Catholic churches there,” Michael Thongni Sordar of Mawroksoin, has claimed.