SHILLONG: Sitting legislator from Rymbai, Nehlang Lyngdoh, has reportedly entered into an ‘agreement’ with MPCC president DD Lapang over the allotment of the Congress ticket for Umsning constituency and has quit the race in favour of sitting MDC from Nongpoh, Dr Celestine Lyngdoh.
The Rymbai MLA, who is also a prominent coal baron, would now contest from Khliehriat constituency. Following this latest development, party sources revealed that it is now almost certain that Dr Celestine Lyngdoh would be awarded the ticket for Umsning constituency ) “He (Nehlang) has now decided to contest from Khliehriat constituency,” the sources informed on Monday.
Nehlang had applied for the Congress ticket for both Umsning and Khliehriat, but he was more eager to contest from Umsning since he wanted to pave the way for his nephew Justice Lyngdoh to contest from Khliehriat, the sources added.
Nehlang’s decision to quit the race for the Umsning ticket would prove to be a major headache for the Congress since there are now five ticket aspirants from Khliehriat – sitting MDC Obil Kyndiat, Amos Dkhar and prominent social activist Justine Dkhar, besides Nehlang and his nephew Justice.
Incidentally, Nehlang’s u-turn on his earlier decision has put the Khliehriat Block Congress Committee (KBCC) into a spot of bother since it had already proposed the name of Justine Dkhar for the party ticket.
Party sources also revealed that Congress supporters in Khliehriat are favouring allotment of the ticket to Dkhar ahead of the sitting legislator (Nehlang).
Party sources also informed that the supporters have threatened to march to the MPCC president’s residence if Dkhar is denied the Congress ticket.