SHILLONG: Opposition parties in Meghalaya have predicted that the Congress would not come to power in the state in 2018 despite the ruling party being in denial mode over the exodus of many party legislators.
While Chief Minister Mukul Sangma and MPCC president DD Lapang are confident that the exodus of legislators would not affect the party’s poll prospects, the Opposition has different views.
“Last Lok Sabha bye-elections in Tura, the chief minister (Mukul Sangma) said he would wipe out NPP. But then we saw that Congress was nearly wiped out,” WR Kharlukhi, state NPP president told The Shillong Times on Sunday.
“Let’s see the results. The result may be the other way round,” Kharlukhi said.
On Sangma’s criticism that NPP will secure a single digit in the ensuing elections, he said, “He made a mistake. It should be the Congress.”
According to him, the exodus of Congress legislators would affect the party naturally. “I am very clear that the Congress will not come back to power in 2018. Door is closed,” he added.
Meanwhile, BJP state president, Shibun Lyngdoh said the weight of the Congress has been reduced in the state.
Stating that the exit of party leaders was “an indication that the party will not come back to power again”, he said the Congress was downplaying it.
“Leaders from the Congress are leaving the party because they understand that the Congress will not come back to power in the state as they realize that to be in governance is a priority for them,” he said.
“They are playing defensive. How can they say they are not facing any threat? In many constituencies, aspirants did not approach the Congress party for tickets, which indicate a threat (for the party),” Lyngdoh said.
UDP member and former legislator, Bindo Lanong said, “Their assertion that it will come to power is nothing but an emotional claim to confuse the electorate.”
According to him, with the “emotional claim,” the Congress will be able to swing a small percentage of voters to them on the basis of emotional tactics.
He enumerated a number of reasons why the Congress will not come back to power in 2018. He said, “Congress’ strength in the Assembly is reduced with Prestone Tynsong, Sniawbhalang Dhar, Rowell Lyngdoh leaving the party.”
“It is a totally eroded party and with many erosions taking place, the Congress has been uprooted in many states. Where is the possibility of Congress coming to power?” he said.
Lanong also accused the Congress of tampering EVMs during the last Assembly elections and recalled that MPs from the Ministry of Justice had come to the state to communicate about the tampering of EVMs. “I don’t know if VVPATs are foolproof or not. Let us see,” he said.
Asked about the Congress’s claim of not considering other parties as threats, he said, “Nobody is a threat. The threat is within. Congress leaders are a threat to the party.”
