SHILLONG: Congress MP Vincent Pala on Thursday observed that a Congress victory in 2018 was a difficult mission but not impossible and put the onus of losing or winning election on a candidate’s capabilities and not on the party.
Pala said the education qualification and administrative nous of aspiring poll candidates mattered. He stated examples of leaders like Andrew Shullai (MBA), George Lyngdoh (engineer), Jopthiaw Lyngdoh and Himalaya Shangpliang (both IAS officers).
Shullai will contest from Jowai in place of RC Laloo who has bowed out of the election race, George and Jopthiaw will replace Congress rebels Ngaitlang Dhar (Umroi) and Sniawbhalang Dhar (Nartiang), respectively. Shangpliang will replace suspended Congress legislator PN Syiem (Mawkyrwat).
“We are hopeful that we will get the best candidates. The party is putting up young blood in the political scene. The power of Congress will not decline if we are well-organised. It is not easy but it is not impossible,” he said.
Pala reiterated that the Congress would retain power in 2018 as there were
divisions in the opposition parties. However, he abstained from declaring publicly the number of seats the party might win.
On the Congress’s star campaigners, Pala said it was up to the party to choose and added that he “automatically becomes a star campaigner by virtue of being an MP”.
The change in the AICC leadership has delayed the party’s election campaign in the state but after Rahul Gandhi takes charge on Saturday, the party will form its various committees for manifestoes and campaign, the MP said.
Commenting on money power, Pala recalled that late HSPDP leader Hoping Stone Lyngdoh won the elections due to the love of the people and not on money.
“Winning elections by using money power is just a perception. It does not mean that money will win. I have not seen any seat being won using money,” he said.
He also spoke about “new entrants” in the state like the National People’s Party (NPP), BJP and the People’s Democratic Front and did not deny the growing influence of the saffron party in the state.
As for NPP, he cited the example of the collapse of the party state administration and in the district council. “It is up to the people to decide,” he said.
