By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The sitting Lok Sabha MP from Shillong, Vincent H Pala, may have slightly spoilt his chance of getting the party ticket to contest the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.
Several Congress legislators out of the 29 elected are still annoyed over his interference in the last Assembly elections in the State which resulted in several official candidates of the party biting the dust at the hands of the opponents.
“We have lost at least six seats due to his campaign against the official party candidates”, a Congress legislator said, adding that this resulted in Congress not securing absolute majority in the House.
According to the legislator, it is an open secret that the MP campaigned for his own favourites, neglecting party candidates.
The AICC has taken exception to the antics of the elected MP following reports from the State party leaders.
Despite the MPCC getting the reports regarding the interference of the Shillong MP, no action was taken against him by the State party chief DD Lapang.
Sources said that during the election, Lapang was close to Pala and hence did not want to annoy the Shillong MP by taking any action against him.
Reports also say that the Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma may not be so keen to endorse the name of Pala as Congress’ candidate for the Shillong seat.
Many aspirants including John Kharshiing and RG Lyngdoh have lined up for the seat in the run up to the elections. Karshiing, supported by UDP, had contested against Pala in the last Lok Sabha polls in 2009.
However, with former Home Minister RG Lyngdoh set to come back to the party fold, Congress may field him to contest the Shillong seat to prevent the Opposition parties from taking advantage of the situation.
