Congress banks on Garo candidate to take on Danggo

MAWKYRWAT: After the visit by former chief minister and Leader of Opposition Mukul Sangma to Ranikor constituency last week to assess the situation, another potential candidate has emerged from the party to contest the Ranikor by-poll, sources said on Tuesday.
On July 27, Sangma along with Congress legislators Dikkanchi D Shira, Miani D Shira and Himalaya Shangpliang visited Ranikor to know the ground reality and assess the strength of the party in the constituency before naming the by-poll candidate.
“After the visit, another leader, Jacques K Sangma, emerged as a potential candidate for the party,” sources said, adding that if the party selects him as the candidate, former MLA and NPP candidate MM Danggo would be in trouble since he was a resident of the border area, a stronghold of Danggo. The sources also said the main objective of Sangma’s visit to Ranikor was to assess the situation so that the party can get a strong and winnable candidate who can defeat Danggo in the by-poll.
Earlier, the name of JC Diengngan, younger brother of former PDF candidate from Ranikor Air Marshall Diengngan, had emerged as the candidate for the Congress in the by-poll.
The Congress will have to face five-time MLA Danggo, former chief executive member of KHADC and PDF candidate PN Syiem and UDP candidate Pius Marwein, who came second in the February Assembly elections.