SHILLONG: The chairman of PDF, PN Syiem, who unsuccessfully contested the Ranikor by-poll, said the Congress came to the rescue of UDP at the last minute that resulted in the victory of the regional party.
“As per the calculation, UDP was trailing a few days prior to the poll and then came the support of the Congress,” Syiem said on Tuesday.
He said Congress candidate Jackiush Sangma understood this as his supporters switched over to the UDP and financial support from the Congress was another factor.
Syiem said despite his defeat, as the chairman of the party, he would remain at the helm of party affairs though not in electoral politics.
“I will not be concentrating on electoral politics temporarily and my focus will be on party politics in the coming days,” Syiem said.
He said the party was strengthened in Ranikor though he did not win the by-poll.
According to Syiem, he along with his ministers, MLAs and MDCs would raise several issues concerning the state, including the coal mining impasse and unemployment problems, among others.
He also downplayed a question as to whether contesting the by-poll was a blunder by saying he got more votes than the Congress candidate in Ranikor.
Syiem got 1,978 votes and Jackiush secured 938 votes.
Syiem also rubbished the claim of the opponents that his political career is over.
“We are strengthening the party and will take up issues concerning the state,” Syiem asserted.
