MAWKYRWAT: UDP leader, Cornelius Nongbri has said the senior Congress leaders backed out from electoral politics because they know the party would not come back to power in 2018.
A former NPP candidate from Ranikor constituency, Nongbri made the statement in the wake of DD Lapang, Roshan Warjri and RC Laloo recently deciding not to contest the Assembly elections next year.
“Congress has been defeated in many states in India and only their list of corruption remains. In Meghalaya also the Congress government did not perform which prompted the three senior leaders to opt out. Other legislators including Rowell Lyngdoh, Prestone Tynsong did not seek tickets from the Congress because they too know it will not come back to power,” Nongbri said, while speaking during the public meeting at Rangthong village under Ranikor constituency in South West Khasi Hills District.
Nongbri also said he did want to contest the upcoming election because he wanted to end the reign of MLA, M.M. Danggo, and that, he added, could happen only if there was understanding and cooperation.
“UDP lost the last election to the Congress with a margin of 455 votes only. If my supporters who voted me in the last elections, voted for UDP this time, we will win the elections,” Nongbri said while urging the people of Rangthong zone to work together with the party so that they can defeat the Congress.
Meanwhile, UDP candidate from Ranikor constituency, Pius Marwein lambasted the MLA for not able to bring development to the constituency or to present the list of beneficiaries of the MLA scheme in the past 20 years. “You have given the present MLA 20 years and you have seen the result. Give me and my party 5 years and you can judge me in another election,” Marwein said.
UDP Ranikor circle president, G.G. Bung Snaitang and three other former candidates from Ranikor constituency, Mighter Marwein, Leena Sangma and Nasar N Marwein, also spoke at the meeting.
