SHILLONG: While Cabinet minister Sniawbhalang Dhar is being selectively targeted for trying to project his brother-in law to contest from Jowai constituency, which is currently represented by Deputy Chief Minister RC Laloo, there were several instances when party leaders went against the official candidates of the party during the past elections.
Though Shillong MP Vincent Pala is pointing fingers at Dhar for not co-operating with him during the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, sources claimed that Pala himself went against the official candidates of the party during the 2013 Assembly polls.
The affected candidates had taken up the matter with the AICC in the past, though Pala had denied this.
Interestingly, Pala is vocal in asking the Congress leadership to sack Dhar from the ministry.
There were also allegations against senior party functionaries from Garo Hills who allegedly went against the official candidates in the past elections and one such instance resulted in the defeat of former chief minister SC Marak in one of the Assembly polls.
A party source admitted that infighting in the Congress had resulted in a scenario where party men went against candidates which ultimately affected the party’s performance in polls.
Sources also added that while the party was prompt to serve show cause notice to Dhar, the same was not followed in the case of KHADC CEM PN Syiem, who was summarily suspended from the Congress for three years without serving any show cause notice.
