SHILLONG: It is not an easy task for the sitting Lok Sabha MP Vincent Pala to retain the seat compared to the 2009 Lok Sabha polls when he had the blessings of all his Congress colleagues.
In Tura, NPP candidate and former Lok Sabha speaker PA Sangma is also facing a direct threat from the Congress especially from Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma in the former’s fight to retain the seat.
Congress party observers said that in 2009 Pala was a new entrant in politics and then sitting MP P R Kyndiah had gladly paved the way for him to contest Shillong seat. There were neither rival contenders for the party ticket nor disunity within the party MLAs which resulted in his winning the seat comfortably.
However, this time, varied factors have put hurdles for a safe return of Pala which include rumblings in the state Congress, anti-incumbency factor both at the Centre and the State and handling of ILP issue by the State Government. Moreover, BJP candidate Shibun Lyngdoh and Independent candidate Denis Siangshai, who hail from Jaintia Hills are likely to split the votes of Pala.
Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma is yet to campaign for Pala though he campaigned for the Congress candidates during the just concluded district council polls in Khasi Hills.
With all the adversities, the Congress candidate, however, is harping on the division of ) votes due to the many number of candidates, to secure his seat.
In Tura, PA Sangma, who is back to national politics after a gap of six years, is also facing the heat, with the Chief Minister himself taking on Purno during the campaigns.
The threat is the eroding presence of NPP as it could get only two legislators in the 2013 Assembly elections whereas Congress secured the majority of seats from Garo Hlls under the leadership of Mukul.
Though Daryl Momin is the candidate for Tura seat, the fight for supremacy is between Purno and Mukul.
However the NPP sources said that, the campaign has seen Purno raising separate Garoland issue and the worst ever law and order situation in Garo Hills which the NPP considers will bring positive results for the party candidate.