SHILLONG: Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma has failed to campaign for sitting MP Vincent Pala, the party candidate for Shillong Lok Sabha seat.
Pala was accompanied to election meetings usually by only the party legislators and sometimes MPCC President DD Lapang.
During the selection process of candidate for Shillong, the Chief Minister did not prefer the candidature of Pala.
However, after the High Command cleared the name of Pala, the Chief Minister had claimed that Congress was united to ensure the victory of party candidates both in Shillong and Tura.
With resentment persisting among some Congress legislators and party men, the High Command had rushed in ACC leader Luizinho Faleiro recently to Shillong to ensure unity.
Party sources cite the Chief Minister’s busy schedule in Garo Hills as he had to campaign for Congress candidate for Tura seat Daryl Momin as the reason for his inability to campaign for Pala.
However, the Chief Minister had campaigned for the party candidates in some parts of Khasi Hills in this year’s district council elections.
Unlike the past, no star campaigners of the Congress arrived in Shillong from Delhi to campaign for Pala. In Garo Hills, however, Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi kick started Daryl’s election campaign.
Pala takes on PBM in common platform: Meanwhile, a common platform public meeting of Congress candidate Vincent Pala and HSPDP-KHNAM supported Independent Candidate PBM Baraiawmoit of Shillong constituency was held at Nonsgtoin on Monday, Our Nongstoin correspondent adds.
Addressing the gathering, Basaiawmoit claimed that many Congress representatives had defected from their party and joined to with him. He added that he was thankful to HSPDP for recognizing his endeavors and backing him in the Lok Sabha fray.
Basaiawmoit assured the people of Khasi and Jaintia Hills that if he was elected, he would take up issues pertaining to the people of the land. He also dealt in length about influx, inter-state border problems, the deplorable condition of road connectivity and issues related to farmers.
HSPDP Vice President Ardent Basaiawmoit said that the HSPDP believed that the people came first, even before the party. He said that Basaiawmoit stood a good chance to win as many leaders of Congress and UDP had defected from their respective parties to join him.
KHNAM President Pyndapbor Saiborne slammed UDP and Congress, alleging that UDP was the B-team of Congress.
Incumbent Shillong MP Vincent H Pala said he would help Shillong set up a recruitment and examination centre for every Central government job if he was voted for a second term. He also highlighted the various schemes and development projects initiated by the Congress-led UPA govt and assured that more schemes were underway.
Others who spoke in the meeting included Rowell Lyngdoh Dy Chief Minister and Dr Adviser Pariong former MLA of Pariong.