Congress eyeing post-poll alliance

SHILLONG, Jan 27: Once a big contender for power in every election, Congress for once is contesting without a single sitting MLA in the kitty.
Clearly playing second fiddle, the party has indicated its willingness to go for a post-poll alliance.
Congress working president Pynshngainlang N Syiem on Friday told journalists that no party can avoid an alliance as the poll verdict would be a fractured one.
“We have to be in the coalition but it would all depend on the numbers and equations post-polls,” he said while pointing out that the relationship between the NPP and the BJP has soured.
The NPP and UDP are also not on the best of terms, he added.
“The TMC will not work with the NPP and Congress will not work with BJP and so we will be in a good position to form an alliance with any party,” Syiem inferred.
He said the main fight in the elections will be between Congress and the NPP, UDP and TMC in the Garo Hills. “You can totally forget about the other parties,” he said, apparently ignoring the BJP.
Syiem downplayed the legislator-less status of Congress, insisting that a party’s performance depends on the quality and potential of a candidate. He, however, said Congress has many high-profile candidates such as Vincent H Pala, Ronnie V Lyngdoh and Deborah C Marak besides many MDCs who had lost the 2018 elections by a very thin margin.
Asked if Pala is being projected as the party’s chief ministerial face, Syiem said the elected candidates would choose their CM.
Congress has fielded 55 candidates who are expected to hit the campaign trail after the filing of the nomination papers.