SHILLONG: Opposition chief whip and Congress leader PT Sawkmie has said that there is a huge anti-incumbency factor against MDA common candidate for the Shillong Lok Sabha seat Jemino Mawthoh because of the close links of the MDA government with the BJP.
Speaking to The Shillong Times here on Sunday, Sawkmie said that there is no anti-incumbency factor against Vincent Pala, the sitting MP and Congress nominee for the Shillong seat, but the same cannot be said of Jemino Mawthoh as people know that the MDA , of which BJP is a constituent, is also working closely with the saffron party at the Centre.
Sawkmie’s observation comes in the wake of Mawthoh accusing Pala of failing miserably. Pala has been the Shillong MP for two consecutive terms.
Sawkmie said Pala has performed very well when the Congress-led UPA was in power in Delhi and even when he was in the Opposition.
“Our MP even in Opposition had raised several issues besides opposing the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill,” Sawkmie said while adding that Pala in the last 10 years as an MP has worked tirelessly for the constituency.
He also said that Mawthoh has no issues to highlight before the people. “He is raising issues since he has to at this juncture when elections are just a few days away,” he said.
Elections to the two Lok Sabha seats of Shillong and Tura will be held on April 11.