NONGPOH: Veteran Congress leader DD Lapang assured that while he has decided not to contest the next Assembly elections, he would continue to serve his constituency, Nongpoh as well as the people of Ri Bhoi district and the state.
“Though I have decided not to contest the elections, I will continue to serve you (Nongpoh constituency) and the people of Ri Bhoi and the state as long my blood veins continue to circulate,” Lapang said while speaking on the sidelines of a cleaning drive conducted by the Dorbar Shnong Nongpoh and Nongpoh Town Committee on Saturday.
The veteran leader who is also the present Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) chief also said a general meeting of the party would be held soon to formally announce the name of his successor who will be contesting from Nongpoh constituency in the 2018 Assembly polls.
Though Lapang did not openly declare the name of his successor, sources said the present Nongpoh Block Congress president, Mayralborn Syiem is likely to be the Congress candidate from Nongpoh constituency. Lapang lauded the initiative of Dorbar Shnong of Nongpoh and the Nongpoh Town Committee for conducting the cleaning drive at Nongpoh in a bid to create mass awareness on the importance of maintaining cleanliness as Nongpoh is the focal centre and gateway of the state.
He further urged the Dorbar Shnong of Nongpoh and the Nongpoh Town Committee to work together to fulfill the aspirations of the people of Nongpoh for their overall development and prosperity. Earlier, as a token of appreciation and encouragement to a few shopkeepers for their ability to maintain cleanliness in their vicinity, Lapang distributed certificates among some shop owners.
Besides, the local residents of Nongpoh town, the cleaning drive programme was also attended by Nongpoh MDC, Rona Khymdeit, chairman of Nongpoh Town Committee, E.K Lapang, secretary of Nongpoh Town, Rayonald Kharkamni, local headman of Nongpoh, Silvester Mynsong and other village leaders.
The town committee expressed it gratitude to the office of the deputy commissioner of Ri Bhoi for their support and Ri Bhoi Superintendent of Police S Rynjah for providing fire-brigade service during the cleaning drive. It also thanked the office of the urban affairs department and MUDA, the Khasi Students Union for providing volunteers and the Jorabat Shillong Expressway Ltd for providing JCB and dumpers during the cleaning drive.
