‘Fight between Cong, NPP in Jaintia Hills’

JOWAI: Former JHADC MDC, Helping Phawa believes that the fight in Jaintia Hills will be between Congress and NPP.
Commenting on the winning chances of the sitting MLAs from Jaintia Hills, Phawa, a member of Congress in Khliehriat, said, “We are sure that Coming One Ymbon from the Congress will retain the Raliang seat. I doubt about Dr RC Laloo because there are more rural voters in Jowai compared to the urban electorate..
Laloo will face NPP candidate W Shylla in Jowai, who is also the brother-in-law of Congress legislator Sniawbhalang Dhar.
Speaking at a book release function here on Saturday, Phawa, who was also elected as the MDC from Tuber in 2004, indicated that the Congress MDC MB Rymbai will not support Laloo.
 “Rymbai has supported him for many years and he always wins.  He (Laloo) has won the election just because of his personality, now his ego and personality will not work anymore,” he said.
 “We know him, we work for him and sometimes during election, we are ready to die for him”, said a voter who claims to be his local committee secretary once upon a time.
 “Let his government officials and their relatives support him, but we the villagers under the Jowai constituency will never support him,” another voter said.
  Meanwhile, Sniawbhalang representing Nartiang is also under threat as retired IAS officer and Congress ticket aspirant Jopthiaw Lyngdoh will give a tough fight.