By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Oct 5: A call by the State Congress for a “united front” of all the political parties to take on the NPP in the Tura Lok Sabha polls seems to have ended prematurely not just in the Garo Hills but even in the Khasi-Jaintia Hills.
The Congress call had zero takers with the TMC not seeing such a move materialising and the VPP making it absolutely clear that they stand alone and do not need the support of any united front.
“The Congress is asking all political parties to unite; so let the political parties take their own stand. I am not saying it is possible or impossible but why should we go through such calls. You are free to suggest but it is not necessary that everybody will toe the line,” TMC state president Charles Pyngrope said on Thursday.
VPP spokesperson Batskhem Myrboh said a “united front” could, at best, materialise in the Garo Hills.
“As far as Khasi Hills is concerned, I don’t see any possibility as our party is very clear that we will not have any tie-up with anyone. We will go alone and we believe that with hard work and the trust the people have on us, we will be able to come out with flying colours,” he said.
“We should not forget the misrule of the Congress in Meghalaya and we should not forget that the Congress party does not consist of saints,” he continued.
Myrboh said VPP is an alternative to all the existing political parties. “One thread that connects all these political parties is the fact that they don’t believe in clean politics. So we don’t mind if Congress combines with other political parties but we will not join them,” he added.
It may be added here that Congress working president and former minister, Deborah Marak on Wednesday mooted the idea of the united front against NPP’s siting parliamentarian and possible candidate, Agatha K Sangma in Tura.
Explaining the best method to defeat Agatha in the upcoming elections, the former Williamnagar MLA felt that there was a need for a “consensus candidate” to ensure they had an advantage.
“Let us see. We have already been working in other states under the banner of INDIA; so if an agreement can be reached, we will have an advantage. Divided, we may just serve the seat on a platter to the NPP. We have to work things out,” Deborah said.
She also pointed to the fact that in most constituencies in the state, the combined votes of the TMC and Congress would have won them seats as well as ensured that many senior leaders, who are currently MLAs in the NPP camp, would not have deserted the party.