From CK Nayak
NEW DELHI: The shocking defeat of former deputy chief minister Deborah Marak will have a serious bearing on the Congress in the Ampati by-poll on May 28.
Ampati is considered as Mukul Sangma’s stronghold. During the by-poll to Tura Lok Sabha constituency in 2016, Ampati was the only constituency where the Congress had got maximum votes. Both Mahendraganj and Rangsakona constituencies, represented by Dikkanchi D Shira and Zenith Sangma, respectively, had voted against the Congress.
NPP’s Conrad Sangma had won Tura seat.
The Congress’s defeat in Williamnagar has further eroded the morale of the party rank and file. This is apparent from the outburst of party members there.
Williamnagar could have altered the Assembly arithmetic as with 20 MLAs, the Congress was still the single largest majority in the House. Deborah’s victory would have strengthened the main opposition party.
If the Congress loses Ampati to NPP, it will no more be the single largest majority as the latter will be on a par with the opposition party.
What is more interesting were the talks between two top NPP and Congress leaders during a chance meeting at the airport, “A top Congress leader defeated Congress in the Williamnagar polls and now the act will be repeated though in a reverse way in Ampati.”
