SHILLONG: Advisor of Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) and veteran Congress leader DD Lapang declined the requests of Congress leaders to contest the forthcoming polls as he wanted to project a young face from Nongpoh constituency.
Working president of the MPCC, Vincent Pala, veteran politician and former Chief Minister SC Marak, Chief Minister Mukul Sangma appealed Lapang to contest the elections during a felicitation programme attended by Congress legislators, party functionaries and All India Congress Committee (AICC) co-coordinator, Anil Thomas.
Calling upon Lapang to contest the elections, Sangma said, “We have to work as a team. Nongpoh is a Congress bastion except for one time. He (Lapang) remains young and strong. Who will say that he is 85?”
“The party will take care. The beauty of the party is that we don’t work as an individual but we work collectively as a party even in the constituency,” he added.
Meanwhile, Vincent Pala recalled that Lapang was hospitalized twice recently. Seeing his improved health condition, Pala requested him to contest the elections, adding that Lapang became weak as he had to attend 16 meetings in a day.
He was informed by a doctor from North Eastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health and Medical Sciences (NEIGRIHMS) that Lapang’s health resembles that of 65 years old.
“We need him. This is a request from the AICC general secretary in charge of Meghalaya, CP Joshi that Lapang should contest the elections,” Pala said.
On the other hand, Lapang remained firm in his decision not to contest the Assembly polls as he has served Nongpoh constituency for 40 years and his advancing age was another struggle.
“I want to project some young people equipped with scientific knowledge,” he said adding that winnability factor of the candidate should be there.
Adding a touch of humour, he asked whether SC Marak will also follow in his footstep to bring up some other young people in his place.