Lapang, Mukul confident of Congress’ win in by-polls

SHILLONG: Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee president D.D Lapang on Friday expressed optimism over the Congress party’s victory in the by-election to the seven vacant seats of the KHADC and JHADC.
Speaking to media persons on Friday, Lapang said the party members nominated seven candidates for the by-election in one sitting which is proof enough that the party was united.
The Congress also discussed its strategy for the by-election, Lapang added.
Chief Minister Mukul Sangma also sounded optimistic about the party’s prospect in the by-polls saying the Congress was gearing up and taking stock of the situation.
Friday’s meeting discussed the party manifesto which will be the guiding principle for the by-polls and also took stock of the party’s election promises and the steps being taken to fulfill them.
According to the chief minister, the most important thing for the party is to reach out to the people and provide them with all the necessary information about the initiatives of the government.
“Every good things that has happened in the North East has complete connection with the Congress”, he claimed.   Asked about the party’s expectations in the upcoming elections, Sangma said election is a wonderful opportunity to connect with the people on various important issues and party will take the election as an opportunity to sensitize people on what the Congress has done over the decades.
Citing an example, Sangma said Shillong was a cosmopolitan city but because of the constitutional provision of the Sixth Schedule, land from other communities has now started to come back to the indigenous people.
“This is a gift of the Congress and that is why the microscopic communities of the North East have been able to insulate themselves from the pulls and pushes of a diverse nation,” he said.
“Tribals not only in Meghalaya but even in Mizoram, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh are protected because of the constitutional provision which is an offshoot of the farsightedness and vision of the Congress leaders,” he added.