From Our Correspondent
NONGPOH: In a latest turn of event, Meghalaya State Level Public Grievances Committee vice chairman Donlang Sohkhlet on Friday announced his decision to contest the forthcoming assembly election scheduled on 23 February next as an independent candidate from Umsning Assembly constituency.
Sohkhlet was denied ticked by the Congress party despite his many attempts of impressing the Congress High Command of the numerous supports he received from the leaders of various committees of the party in Umsning constituency.
Taken aback by the announcement of candidates by the Congress on Monday last where his name did not figure as the ticket went to Nongpoh MDC Dr. Celestine Lyngdoh, Sohkhlet regrouped his loyalists and convened a meeting in Umdihar Dorbar Hall this afternoon as to take a decision on whether to enter the fray or retreat.
After threadbare deliberations from various leaders of Mahila Committee, Youth Committee and Umsning Block Congress Committee who have defunct from the party in support of Sohkhlet, a unanimous decision was adopted of Sohkhlet entering the fray as an Independent Candidate. Around 200 loyalists from the party and headmen attended the heated meeting in against the Congress party for depriving ticket to their leader.
Political observers said that the contest would be between the INC candidate Dr. C Lyngdoh and UDP Candidate and former Umroi MDC Field Marshall Lyngdoh with Sohkhlet breaking the Congress vote bank however former KSU president Donkupar Sumer also contesting as independent candidate may cause some hiccups. In the end Mawphniang might steal the show and become the first MLA from Umsning Assembly Constituency, they opined.