Gabriel Wahlang gets Sonia seal
SHILLONG: A day after HSPDP cleared the candidature of Dios Jyndiang, a close aide of late Hoping Stone Lyngdoh to contest the November 21 by-poll for Nongstoin seat, the Congress on Friday allotted party ticket to Gabriel Wahlang, the nominated MDC of KHADC.
A state Congress source said on Friday that the AICC leader V. Narayanasamy has communicated to the MPCC president DD Lapang that the Congress chief Sonia Gandhi has given nod to the candidature of Wahlang.
A formal announcement in the regard will be made by the party at Nongstoin on Saturday.
The state leadership of the party had forwarded three names, Wahlang, who is close to the Chief Minister, former MLA Advisor Pariong, and Congress leader Nestingdar Nongdkhar, to AICC for the mandatory approval.
Pariong, who contested the last Assembly election from Nongstoin on a Congress ticket, stood second to HS Lyngdoh by securing 8475 votes.
Prior to the nomination of Wahlang as MDC, he had held the post of President of the Meghalaya Pradesh Youth Congress over two years since 2012.
Wahlang, who had served as a teacher in West Khasi Hills district hails from Nongstoin.
Meanwhile, three days have passed since the notification regarding filing of nomination for Nongstoin by-poll issued but till date no nomination has been filed.
Indications are that Nongstoin may witness a straight contest between HSPDP and Congress during November 21 by-poll as other parties are not keen to field candidates.
An NPP functionary on Friday made it clear that his party is not putting up candidate.
Both BJP and UDP are awaiting recommendations from their respective district units in this connection.
“A clear picture will emerge by Monday,” UDP leader Paul Lyngdoh said on Friday.
The bye poll was necessitated following the death of HS Lyngdoh in Shillong on September 26.