SHILLONG: The Congress is moving diligently in identifying the legislators who will leave the party and will call for applications of candidates for all the 60 seats from the end of this month.
Speaking to The Shillong Times on Friday, MPCC president DD Lapang said a circular will be issued by the party on August 21 inviting applications from candidates from August 31 till November 15.
According to Lapang, from among these applications, the party will know which legislators had not applied for the party ticket.
There were media reports that several Congress legislators will leave the party to contest from other political parties.
One such speculation was that dropped ministers Prestone Tynsong and Sniawbhalang Dhar may join NPP though the duo had denied it.
“These are media reports. We cannot probe these but at least from the applications received we will come to know who had not applied for the party ticket,” Lapang said.
The applications received by the party will be scrutinised by MPCC on November 30 after which AICC will take a final decision on the names of the candidates, Lapang said.
According to Lapang, both loyalty and winnability factors will be taken into account before allotting tickets to the aspirants.
Reshuffle CM’s prerogative
Lapang said the party cannot comment on the issue related to dropping of Tynsong and Dhar from the Cabinet.
“The issue of dropping relates to the chief minister. It is his prerogative and he wants to give chance to the greenhorns,” Lapang said.
The MPCC chief said AICC wants to revamp the party and desires other legislators to share responsibilities. “In case of Ri Bhoi for the last two terms, there was no representative in the Cabinet,” Lapang said.
In the recent reshuffle, Celestine Lyngdoh representing Umsning in Ri Bhoi was appointed as Cabinet Minister.
On whether dropping Tynsong and Dhar from the Cabinet will have any negative impact, Lapang said, “I cannot say whether this will be a blow to the party or not. If certain legislators feel free to leave the party, they can do so.”
