After Tura snub, TMC to go for NPP in Shillong

SHILLONG, March 17: The sour relations between Congress and TMC in Meghalaya have come out in the open.
After Meghalaya Congress turned down TMC’s plea for conceding Tura seat for it to take on NPP in a straight fight, it is now TMC’s turn to return the complements.
For Shillong constituency, where Pala is seeking re-election, TMC has decided to dump Congress and embrace the NPP instead.
As the battleground is getting action packed, there are credible reports that TMC has made up its mind to back NPP Lok Sabha candidate Ampareen Lyngdoh in Shillong.
TMC Nongthymmai block committee has admitted to having decided to extend its support to the NPP candidate.
According to sources, Ampareen Lyngdoh along with two other NPP leaders recently attended a meeting called by the Nongthymmai block TMC.
When this reporter sought to confirm the stand, the block committee president, Bawan Khyriem defended the move saying, “There is no TMC candidate in Shillong and the NPP is the only party which sought support from us.”
He clarified that “This is the decision of the block and Bah Charles (local MLA) has nothing to do with it. Since there is no TMC candidate, the block had decided in the interest of the Khasi-Jaintia Hills, especially the Shillong parliamentary seat, that we are going to support the NPP candidate,” he added.
He said the decision was arrived at after months of deliberations and on that particular day of the meeting Ampareen Lyngdoh decided to come herself and seek support.
Meanwhile, there are unconfirmed reports of UDP leaders from Nongpoh having held a meeting with Ampareen Lyngdoh at a resort in Marmain area in Ri-Bhoi.
It may be recalled that MPCC president and Congress nominee for Shillong seat, Vincent H Pala had turned down TMC’s proposal for leaving Tura for TMC to fight against NPP. This seems to have peeved the Meghalaya TMC leaders who are now out to avenge on Pala.