SHILLONG: The Congress, other than basking in the glory of inaugurations of schemes, is yet to come together and reach out to the grassroots to thwart the attempt of BJP and other non-Congress parties to secure power in the State in 2018.
A senior party leader on Sunday admitted that it is time now to have a series of party programmes to reach out to the mass beyond the inaugurations of government schemes.
While appreciating the various schemes launched by the chief minister, the party leader said unity among MLAs and party members will only ensure better results in 2018 polls.
There are many Congress legislators, who do not prefer to contest from the party as they are set to join other non-Congress political parties to contest the 2018 polls.
Neither the CLP nor the MPCC has addressed the grievances of the legislators who, however, lost hope on AICC considering the eroding presence of the party nationally, party sources said.
However, with just more than six months away from elections while BJP is making inroads into various parts of the State in the run-up to the polls, NPP has decided to rope in some sitting legislators and others at an appropriate time to strengthen its position in Khasi Hills. It is also trying to get maximum seats in Garo Hills.
Aiming to go big, UDP and HSPDP have already entered into a pre-poll alliance in Khasi-Jaintia Hills.
UDP has also made seat adjustments with the Garo Hills-based Garo National Council hoping to secure some seats in the region.
The regional party, KHNAM, will have no other option but to go it alone in the upcoming polls.
The ground work of the new entrant PDF is in full swing with the suspended Congress member and KHADC Chief Executive Member PN Syiem is set to join the party by August.
PDF also hopes that a few sitting legislators and several MDCs will join the party at the right time.
Independent legislator Saleng Sangma, who is planning to join NCP, is trying to bring some sitting legislators into the party fold.
Currently, NCP has two legislators, Sanbor Shullai and Marthon Sangma.
Last week, the Lok Janshakti Party (LJP), an ally in the BJP-led NDA, announced its decision to contest the 2018 polls though it had not won any single seat in 2008 and 2013 elections.
