By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Jan 10: Has the Congress blundered in its ticket allocation for the Umroi constituency?
The decision of the Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) to field Micky Douglas Syiem as the candidate for Umroi in the upcoming Khasi Hills Autonomous District (KHADC) elections has sparked opposition from members of the Mahila Congress in the constituency.
Following the MPCC’s official announcement of Syiem’s candidacy on Friday, members of Mahila Congress exhorted MPCC chief, Vincent H. Pala, to reconsider and instead award the ticket to former MDC, Albinus Lyngdoh.
When their request was dismissed, the Mahila Congress members walked out of Congress Bhavan, declaring their intent to support the Voice of the People Party (VPP) candidate instead. They later told reporters they would meet Lyngdoh to finalise their support for the upcoming election.
The MPCC election committee had awarded the ticket to Syiem based on a report by working president, Pynshngain N. Syiem, who argued that Syiem had stronger chances of winning due to support from the Umroi Constituency People’s Forum (UCPF) and Congress voters.
Speaking to media persons here, MPCC chief Vincent H. Pala defended the decision, stating, “I would request everyone to fall in line with the decision of the party since the election is very close. It is a collective decision of the party leadership including leaders from the AICC after looking at all angles.”
The UCPF had initially announced Syiem as its candidate after a public consultation process. However, sources revealed that internal surveys indicated better prospects under the Congress banner, prompting the forum to align with the party.
The UCPF Executive Committee is expected to convene a general meeting soon to discuss mass defections to the Congress following Syiem’s announcement as the party’s candidate.
Insiders anticipate these defections will take place during this meeting.
The UCPF, formed on December 9, 2024, following the dissolution of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) in Umroi and other regions, initially positioned itself as an independent platform for the KHADC elections, promising to select candidates through public consultations.
Pala gives the lie to
allegations of NPP-Cong pact in Sohryngkham
The MPCC chief has dismissed allegations of an understanding between the Congress and the NPP in the Sohryngkham constituency ahead of the elections to the ADCs.
The controversy arose after the Congress awarded its ticket to Jonathan Syiem, a relative of KHADC Chief Executive Member (CEM) Pyniaid Sing Syiem, who represents Sohryngkham.
Since then, questions have been raised over this decision, especially since Jonathan Syiem, the sitting MDC of Sohryngkham, has shifted to contest the upcoming KHADC polls from Nongthymmai constituency.
Pala clarified that the decision to allot the party ticket to Jonathan Syiem was made purely on merit and not due to personal relations. “It is not right to connect personal relations with politics,” Pala said, emphasising that the selection was based on merit alone.
Addressing the issue of party tickets, the MPCC chief stated that the Congress, if necessary, could withdraw a party ticket from any candidate, similar to the recent decision of the Voice of the People Party (VPP).
The VPP recently withdrew its party ticket from Marbiang Nongsiej, its official candidate for Nongstoin, replacing her with Juristman Iawphniaw.
Without elaborating the reasons, VPP state election committee secretary, Londoner M. Sohtun, stated that the decision was made “in the interest of the party and the people in general.”
The VPP had earlier declared that the party reserved the right to review or revoke a candidate’s candidature for district council elections if the candidate was deemed undeserving or deviated from the party’s principles and directions.
Referring to the VPP’s case, Pala noted that the Congress could face similar situations where such decisions might need to be taken.