Rebels prompt Cong to prepare proxy candidates

SHILLONG: Realising that there are rebels within the Congress to spoil its chances of winning, the party is preparing for alternate candidates in at least five constituencies of the sitting Congress legislators.
The Congress recently dissolved the Umroi Block Congress Committee aimed at targeting sitting legislator Ngaitlang Dhar who, it was heard on the grapevine, is set to leave the party along with his brother and legislator Sniawbhalang Dhar, who was dropped from the ministry recently.
The MPCC working president, James Lyngdoh, said he had received the letter of dissolution of the Umroi Block Congress Committee carried out at the district level.
While the Congress may give party ticket to a former UDP leader, who had unsuccessfully contested a byelection in the past from Umroi, the party is trying to project former East Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner Jopthiaw Lyngdoh to contest the Nartiang seat, which is currently represented by Sniawbhalang.
Another constituency where the Congress is set to put up a different candidate is Mawsynram, the constituency of suspended Congress member and KHADC chief executive minister PN Syiem.
The Congress may allot party ticket to bureaucrat HM Shangpliang as Syiem who had rebelled against the Congress leadership is set to join the newly floated PDF.
In Pynursla, which is represented by dropped minister Prestone Tynsong, the Block Congress is projecting a local contractor, Lutphar Dkhar. Though former deputy chief minister Rowell Lyngdoh is a loyal Congress man, efforts are on by the MPCC to project former KHADC CEM and MDC of Ranikor constituency, Mansturdy Nongrem to contest the Mawkyrwat seat.
Last November, Lyng-doh had expressed concern over lack of consultations on the part of the party functionaries before appointing Mansturdy Nongkrem as the president of South West Khasi Hills by MPCC president DD Lapang.