SHILLONG: The Congress will be cautious in choosing candidates for the 2018 Assembly elections and will keep less number of businessmen on the list.
Chief Minister Mukul Sangma said on Thursday businessmen can join parties which think only about the self-centric business community.
Two Congress legislators who are well-known businessmen are set to quit the party and join NPP. Besides the two, the state Congress has a long list of leaders, including the chief minister’s wife who represents Mahendraganj constituency, with interests in mining and other businesses.
Sangma told reporters that the Congress is committed to promoting entrepreneurship but at the same time wants to dissuade people from looking at politics as a way to serve their interests.
The party is likely to announce the names of candidates in two phases and some names might be announced before New Year, the chief minister informed.
Asserting that the Congress is getting promising leaders who are potential candidates, Sangma said, “It is a silver lining and a new benchmark for future.”
He denied reports that the Congress could not find a promising candidate in Pynursla. “We have a good doctor from there,” he said while admitting that there is a lot of pressure on the party as far as selection of candidates is concerned in several areas like Laskein and Shangpung constituency.
When asked about defectors and whether they would come back to the party, Sangma reiterated that the natural process should not be hindered. He added that while some would quit, some would join too.
