SHILLONG: Home Minister HDR Lyngdoh said on Saturday Mukul Sangma can continue as the chief minister after the Congress wins the 2018 Assembly elections.
The senior leader, who spoke confidently with reporters about the party winning more than 30 seats next year and bleak chances for BJP, said, “I don’t think there is a necessity to replace him (Sangma). But the party will go to the people as one voice and not as a divided house.”
He downplayed reports that stated that MLAs would desert the Congress and asserted that Meghalaya witnessed development in the last 7-8 years under Sangma.
When asked about Congress’s loss in the KHADC bye polls in Sohiong that he was representing, Lyngdoh said people were of the opinion that the post of MLA and MDC should go to different persons.
Citing an example, he said former minister JA Lyngdoh was voted as an MLA from Nongspung constituency but people never voted him in District Council polls.
On HSPDP-UDP alliance, Lyngdoh said, “What benefit will the alliance get after defeating me in the elections? Also, voters are the wisest.”
The leader said he would soon apply for party ticket.
Lyngdoh won the Assembly polls from Sohiong for the last five consecutive terms and he is seeking re election for the sixth time.