SHILLONG: The state Congress will field its sitting MP Vincent Pala as the party candidate for the Lok Sabha election next year.
Congress spokesperson HM Shangpliang said on Thursday Pala will contest from Shillong and the party’s election committee will take a call on the Tura candidate.
Shangpliang was confident that the Congress would retain the Shillong seat because Pala had been an “effective MP”.
The Congress has not won the Tura parliamentary seat after Purno Sangma left the party.
When asked, the MLA said this time the party would come up with a strong candidate.
On the MDA’s plan to field a common candidate, Shangpliang said the idea, if materialises, would not affect the Congress.
“According to media reports, the UDP has decided to go ahead and contest the Lok Sabha election whereas NPP says they are yet to decide on a common candidate,” he added as he hinted at the lack of consensus among the alliance partners.
The UDP is pitching for fielding a common candidate in Shillong and the two probable candidates are Jemino Mawthoh and Paul Lyngdoh.
