SHILLONG: With the declaration of the by-poll results, the alliance partners are focusing on further strengthening the alliance while the Opposition Congress, even after losing the by-election in both the constituencies, is happy for the fact that the party’s former leader MM Danggo lost the election.
Speaking to media persons here after the announcement of the results, UDP senior leader Paul Lyngdoh said the win in Ranikor “is another feather in the party’s cap that would help validate UDP as the largest regional party in the state”.
“It is a win for the cause of regionalism,” he said while thanking NPP for smoothly facilitating the transfer of the Ranikor seat from Congress to UDP since Ranikor was a Congress bastion and for the fact that UDP has returned to the constituency after two decades.
Lyngdoh also brushed aside any political ramifications in the state following the political developments saying the victory of Conrad Sangma validates UDP’s choice.
He also said the win for the MDA partners in both seats would further strengthen people’s faith in the coalition and government’s action should match those expectations.
On the other hand, NPP state president WR Kharlukhi said since the MDA partners have won in both seats, it would only strengthen the alliance, adding that they would have to assess as what went wrong in Ranikor where NPP lost the elections despite fielding a veteran leader like MM Danggo who left Congress to join NPP.
Kharlukhi said there was nothing wrong with the move of NPP to field Danggo as its candidate and he “is happy for the fact that Congress’s position has come down to 20 from 21″.
Congress leader Fearless Warjri also defended the party over the loss in both the seats saying South Tura constituency was last represented by the Congress in 1998 and in this election, the party has increased its vote share to 5,000.
Talking about Ranikor results, Warjri said that people of the state are aware about their democratic principles and people of Ranikor have given the answer “for the betrayal by MM Danggo and there is no reason for Congress to be unhappy”.
