SHILLONG: The Congress, despite MPCC chief DD Lapang’s claim, may find it difficult to come back to power in 2018, considering the trend in Manipur and Goa where the party emerged as the single largest entity but continues to sit in the Opposition.
Political observers feel that gone are the days when the Congress in Meghalaya got support from the erstwhile UPA leadership to be in power in the State by ousting the non-Congress alliances.
Post 2014, since the time the party is not in power at the Centre, there is a reversal in many Congress-ruled states whether it is Assam, Goa or Manipur.
Recently, Cabinet Minister Ronnie Lyngdoh expressed concern over non-Congress parties not allowing the single largest party, the Congress, to form government in both Goa and Manipur.
The Congress’s fear is that the same situation may be repeated in Meghalaya after the 2018 polls.
However, Lapang had said on Saturday that the Congress would emerge victorious in 2018 and form the government alone or with partnership. He had also indicated that the Congress would emerge as the single largest party.
Commenting on the stand of Lapang, NPP spokesperson James Sangma said the Congress was still in denial despite several adversaries.
“The Congress is living in a utopian self-sufficient dream devoid of reality (and) ignoring the ground situation where there is overall resentment against the government and the party,” Sangma said.
NPP is projecting itself as an alternative to the Congress in 2018 and will soon hold its election committee meeting.
BJP state president Shibun Lyngdoh said Lapang can claim anything since he is the party president.
Reacting to the statement of Lapang that BJP will not open an account in Meghalaya, Lyngdoh asserted that BJP will form the government and added that the time will tell the reality.
BJP is planning to put up candidates in all the 60 seats in 2018 and it has started strengthening its base in all parts of the State.
Another likely hurdle for the Congress to come back to power is the pre-poll alliance between UDP and HSPDP which was primarily aimed at ousting the Congress from power.
The non-Congress political parties in the State may also take advantage of the disunity in the party ahead of the polls.
BJP’s Lyngdoh said the party is working on the modalities of accepting some Congress legislators to its fold.
