JOWAI: Deputy Chief Minister RC Laloo, who has decided to quit electoral politics, had an emotional moment on Wednesday in his hometown Jowai.
The veteran Congress leader, who is also the local MLA, addressed a gathering of supporters and well-wishers at his residence, now North Liberty Higher Secondary School, Mission Compound, in Jowai.
Speakers at the meeting lauded Laloo, who has served 25 out of the 35 years of his political career here, for his capability to serve Jowai and help in its all-round development.
“I feel that it is a great loss for me and for my locality,” said Dr P Syngkon, a prominent resident, to the 2,000-odd people.
All the speakers, including Laloo, projected JHADC chief Andrew Shullai as the Congress candidate from Jowai.
Laloo was elected for the first time in 1983 and then in 1987 and lost the seat in 1992 and 1998. He and was re-elected in 2002, 2008 and 2013. The meeting on Wednesday was to thank the veteran politician.
“I never dreamt of becoming a politician, my father founded Kiang Nangbah College and it was renamed Jowai Government College and in 1983 when I become the education minister, I renamed it as Kiang Nangbah Government College in honour of my father. I was inspired by my father who lost the election in 1957,” said the Congress leader.
Others who spoke on the occasion were SK Lato and Homely Passah, Headman of Mukhla Shohshrieh.