By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: UDP working president Bindo Mathew Lanong might have kicked-up a political storm on Wednesday with his comment that his party has more dignified women members as compared to the Congress.
“Majority of the women members in the UDP come from good intellectual backgrounds. Our women members are far better when compared to the Congress,” Lanong said while speaking at a function after inaugurating the party office of Shillong North constituency here on Wednesday.
While stating that members of the Mahila Congress are found at each and every party, Lanong said that the UDP women members prefer to make their presence felt only when required.
“The Mahila Congress members would always be dancing around whether at home or in New Delhi just to please their party rank and file,” Lanong stated.
Lauding the UDP women candidates who are contesting the upcoming election, he said that all the four women candidates stand to win the in election.
Speaking of Ibarilin Kharsati, who is contesting from the Shillong North constituency, Lanong said that it would be great shame for the people of the constituency if they reject Kharsati who had earlier been conferred with the National Teacher’s Award.
“I strongly believe that women who are competent should be elected,” Lanong added.
Campaigning of Kharsati, UDP working president Paul Lyngdoh also said that the people of the constituency deserve a qualified representative like Kharsati.
“It would be a big shame if the constituency is represented by an under-qualified candidate,” Lyngdoh said.
Meanwhile, highlighting the ongoing disgruntlement and rumblings in the Congress, UDP working president Bindo Mathew Lanong said it would be really foolish if the people continue to vote for that party.
“The problem in the Congress has spilled out in the public after the announcement of the ticket list. Many disgruntled ticket aspirants have decided to contest against the official party nominee,” Lanong said on Wednesday.
“The rumblings in the Congress are not restricted only among the ticket aspirants. There is a division even among the top party leadership in the State,” the UDP leader claimed.
He said that former Union Minister of State Vincent H Pala had recently announced that they would again elect DD Lapang as the Chief Minister of the State.
“In fact it was Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma who brought to his notice this statement made by Pala. The Chief Minister was not very happy with this statement of the former Union Minister of State,” Lanong said.
According to the UDP working president, the leadership tussle among the Congress leaders has been restrained only because AICC president Sonia Gandhi has told them to concentrate on the Assembly election in the State.
“There is no assurance that the Congress leaders would not engage in a similar tussle after the election. The cold war in the Congress camp has already erupted with the party allocating to tickets to those aspirants who are favourites of some top leaders. We can expect the worse after the announcement of the result since there would be a leadership tussle,” Lanong said, adding that it is the people who would ultimately suffer on account of this politicking among the Congress leaders.
The UDP working president also urged the people of the State to allow the UDP to come to power this time.
“We would prove that we can provide better governance if we are put in the helms of power,” he added.
Meanwhile, the other UDP working president, Paul Lyngdoh, said it was time to put an end to the unhealthy trend where people from Delhi decide the fate of the people of the State.
“I do not think that the people in Delhi understand the ground problems of people in Nongshken and other villages,” Lyngdoh said.
“It is time that the State should stand on its own feet and not depend on people who are 5000 miles away,” he said, adding that the UDP now deserves to be in the driver’s seat to lead the State.
“To end the Congress misrule a strong regional party like the UDP should be given an opportunity to rule the State for the next five years,” Lyngdoh added.
Other UDP leaders who were present at the function included Social Welfare Minister JA Lyngdoh, UDP East Khasi Hills president RA Lyngdoh, UDP MLA from Mawhati Donbok Khymdeit and UDP candidate from Shillong North constituency Ibanrilin Kharsati.