By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The Congress and UDP are optimistic of winning the bypoll to the vacant Langrin council seat next week.
Talking to The Shillong Times, a senior Congress member said the party is confident of emerging victorious with the support extended by former MLA MM Danggo who quit the NPP recently.
Danggo had joined NPP after leaving Congress.
“This time we are sure to win as we have a vote bank of over 3000 and will get a boost with Danggo joining the campaign,” the Congress member said.
When asked, the senior Congress member said that the fight is between party candidate Jotin Khardewsaw and UDP’s Pius Marwein.
UDP sees positive feedback
Meanwhile, UDP general secretary Jemino Mawthoh said that the party’s preparation is in full swing as party workers/functionaries, ministers, MLAs and MDCs are campaigning and there is positive feedback from the people.
“The UDP circle has been working very hard and we are positive that this time we are going to retain the Langrin seat”, he said.
Asked if he sees any threat with Danggo supporting the Congress candidate, Mawthoh said, “There is no threat to UDP as the regional party is very strong at the grassroots level.”
The UDP has fielded its legislator from Ranikor, Pius Marwein who is also being backed by the Hill State People’s Democratic Party (HSPDP).
Marwein filed his nomination on Monday in Mawkyrwat in the presence of the president of UDP Ranikor Circle, GG Bung Snaitang, besides other party leaders.
Speaking to media after filing his papers, Marwein expressed hope that the UDP will win again in this bye-election.
“When we toured around the Constituency, our leaders and supporters expressed confident that the people will re-elect the UDP in this bye-election,” Marwein said, while expressing happiness that the party was united in naming him as the candidate.
NPP candidate confident
Meanwhile, NPP South West Khasi Hills president and party candidate, Kitborlang Nongrem said voters’ response is good and added, “We are preparing well and trying our level best to win the seat.”
Nongrem asserted that the aim in any electoral battle is to reach the goal and said that he has no problem with any opponent.
“There are three candidates. It is up to the people who are the judge at the end of the day.”
He informed that he will file his nomination papers on Tuesday.
Marwein stated that the death of his uncle and sitting MDC Nasar Marwein had resulted in the instability in the KHADC, and asserted that if he wins the bye-election, stability will return to the council.
Lauding the work done by the previous Executive Committee (EC) led by Teinwell Dkhar in a short period of time, Marwein expressed hope that if he wins, the UDP can lead a strong and stable EC that will protect the rights of the indigenous people.
President of the UDP Ranikor Circle, GG Bung Snaitang criticised the behaviour of the Members of District Council for jumping from one party to another.
“As of now, the Members of District Council in KHADC have been presenting a bad example to the people. People select them to make laws, but they are busy in overthrowing each other,” Snaitang said.
Last date of nominations
The last date for filing of nominations is Wednesday before 3 pm, while scrutiny of the papers will be taken up the same day after 3 pm.
The last date of withdrawal of nomination papers is on Thursday, while the finalisation and publication of valid nominations and allocation of symbols is on February 22.
Polling will be held on February 28 from 7 am till 4 pm and counting of votes will be held on March 3.
