SHILLONG: The Congress is hoping for a revival as its candidates Vincent Pala and Mukul Sangma face the Lok Sabha polls on April 11 and the MDA, with more MLAs and MDCs on its side, sees the polls as a golden opportunity to get a stronger foothold.
In the House of 59, MDA candidates have the support of 37 legislators. Also, the coalition is in power in both the KHADC and the JHADC.
The Congress is left with just 19 legislators, 10 MDCs in KHADC and four in JHADC out of 29.
Though part of MDA coalition, the BJP, which has two MLAs in the Assembly, is contesting separately.
The lone KHNAM member, Adelbert Nongrum, has fielded his own candidate, THS Bonney.
NPP leader and Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong admitted that this is an opportune moment for the MDA candidates to win both the seats. He, however, added that it all depends on the hard work of the local leaders.
Sources said the MDA is facing a tough task in introducing and popularising its candidate Jemino Mawthoh, especially to the voters in Jaintia Hills due to paucity of time. “It is not possible for the candidate to go to each and every village. It will depend on the leaders of various parties to garner support for the candidate,” Tynsong said.
However, sitting MP Vincent Pala from the Congress is a familiar face to the voters.
A Congress leader said Pala is still popular in Jaintia Hills though the party has only one MLA in the seven Assembly segments.
Tynsong said all the parties supporting the common candidate in Shillong have already started their campaigns in favour of Mawthoh.
“We are in an advantageous position considering the support of MLAs and MDCs we have,” he said.
He pointed out that the vote share of the MDA was more than 50 percent in the Assembly elections last year.
According to Tynsong, the message to the people during the campaign is that if voters elect two MPs, they can take up the issues concerning the state with the Centre.
However, the NPP leader admitted that there is a contest in both Tura and Shillong. “Election is election. The fight will be there. You cannot underestimate your opponents,” he added.
