By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The United Democratic Party (UDP), Mawthadraishan Unit, West Khasi Hills suffered a severe setback when senior leader JC Diengngan, who had been denied the UDP ticket, resigned from the party and joined the Congress party to extend his support to Congress candidate Boldness Nongum in the February 23 Assembly polls.
Diengngan along with 63 other members of the UDP met Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) president DD Lapang at Congress Bhavan here and formally joined the Congress. The formal induction of Diengngan and the 63 other members were witnessed by senior Congress leaders including Nongum, Eurica Mawlong, MM Danggo, Roshan Warjri and OL Nongtdu.
Speaking to reporters, Diengngan said he decided to join the Congress party after the UDP central body gave the ticket to another candidate who wasn’t even a member of the party.
“This decision was taken after taking note of the fact that I cannot contest the election as an Independent. To prevent my supporters from scattering I have brought them to the Congress which has good chances of winning the seat,” he said.
Stating that he had been associated with the UDP since 1998, Diengngan said, “The party has betrayed me and I have no other option but to leave it for good.”
He also claimed that besides the 60 other members, about 2500 others will also join the Congress very soon after a meeting to be held at Kynshi.
MPCC president DD Lapang recollected that four UDP MDCs from Ri-Bhoi had joined the Congress party and now, Nongpoh MDC Dr Celestine Lyngdoh has managed to get the Congress ticket from Umsning.
Meanwhile, OL Nongtdu clarified on the denial of the Congress ticket to Irene Lyngdoh from Mawthadraishan stating that during the elections, Lyngdoh had received very less votes while Nongum received the majority votes.
