SHILLONG: The State Congress is likely to suffer severe reverses in the run up to the 2018 State elections with some Congress leaders in the State contemplating not to contest the 2018 Assembly elections on Congress tickets due to lack of able leadership in the party.
The Congress leaders, on the request of anonymity, claimed that there is a dearth of a successful party leader either in the Garo Hills or in Khasi Hills.
“Neither Mukul Sangma is popular in Garo Hills nor is D.D. Lapang in Khasi Hills. So under whose leadership will we contest the election?” the Congress leaders questioned.
Asked if they are joining BJP, they said it is too early for them to comment anything on the matter, but added that the Congress in Meghalaya is in need of a good leader or else it will be quite tough for the party to retain its position in the State.
The leaders are also surprised as to how the popularity of the chief minister dwindled so quickly in Garo Hills since he was the one who had given the Congress a new lease of life in Garo Hills in the 2013 State elections.
While the dissidents in the State are demanding for a change of leadership, party sources have revealed that several Congress legislators and ministers have gone back to the chief minister extending their support, effectively reducing the dissidents’ hopes of garnering maximum support.
However, the ‘rebel’ Congress leaders said they will go slow and when they get the required numbers, the matter will be presented to the AICC for a change of leadership.
