SHILLONG: Congress candidate from East Shillong, M Ampareen Lyngdoh and Independent candidate from Mylliem constituency, Ricky Shullai filed their nominations here on Wednesday.
Speaking to media persons after filing the nomination papers, she appealed to constituents to support her again. She observed that anti-incumbency factor was a common occurrence for a person who is contesting the elections for the fourth time.
“If at all there is an anti-incumbency factor, it would account for the 1 per cent where we could not reach out because I have 40 localities in my constituency and taking care of everyone in five years is always the biggest challenge,” she said.
She exuded confidence by stating that she has been able to deliver 99 per cent of what her constituents requested for.
Asked on other political parties, Lyngdoh said, “We are not looking at our contenders. We are preparing our own elections. We will give it our best shot. We will try to have a bigger margin on the date of the announcement of the results.”
She added, “Parties come and go; Congress is here to stay in my constituency.”
On the other hand, she has appealed the people to come out and vote to negate the low polling turnout.
She recalled the contributions of her late father, Peter G. Marbaniang and her brother R G Lyngdoh who have served people of the constituency for four decades.
Stating that she will be fine sitting in the opposition, Lyngdoh said, “I am a committed Congress worker and I have faith in my party and proud of my leader Rahul Gandhiji, and I will always be with the Congress.”
Meanwhile, Ricky Shullai, the nephew of BJP member and former MLA from South Shillong, Sanbor Shullai, said that it was impossible to walk in the footsteps of his uncle.
Stating that it is a question of professional career and professional life, he maintained that it is going by the voice of supporters that he ended up contesting as an Independent as they don’t want him to enter BJP.
Asked why he refused to join BJP, he said that there had been many criticisms against the party which made his supporters disapprove of the saffron party.
Lawsohtun falls under Mylliem constituency in the Assembly Elections but falls under Laban Constituency in the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council elections (KHADC).
Ricky said that he saw the challenges faced by the people in Lawsohtun that prompted him to contest the MLA elections.