PDF leaders at Umsning join Congress after ticket row

NONGPOH: The shifting of allegiance before the district council elections continues and the latest gainer has been the Congress at Umsning.
Many leaders and supporters of the People’s Democratic Front (PDF) at Umsning joined the Congress at a function held at the residence of MPCC chief Celestine Lyngdoh on Thursday.
The former PDF leaders under the leadership of Gilbert Nongrum, former president of PDF Umsning zone, joined the Congress after he wa denied ticket.
The PDF has allotted ticket from Umsning to Macdalyne Sawkmie Mawlong, the elder sister of MLA Jason Sawkmie Mawlong, for the KHADC polls despite strong protest by Nongrum.
Besides Nongrum, other top leaders of the PDF from Umsning zonal committee like OS Marngar and R Kharmawphlang were welcomed into the party fold by the MPCC president on Thursday in presence of MG Kharshanlor, General Secretary of Ri Bhoi District Congress Committee (RBDCC) and Block Congress leaders.
This development has boosted the prospects of Rocky A Marwein, the Congress candidate from Umsning constituency. On the same day, Belarius Rongpeit, another joint secretary of the UDP from Umsning also joined the opposition camp.