Shillong, Jan. 10: The Congress is likely to face a stiff challenge in the two Meghalaya districts of East Garo Hills and Ri Bhoi in the forthcoming Assembly polls. Considered as traditional Congress bastions, the two districts, represented, among others, by former chief ministers S.C. Marak and D.D. Lapang, are likely to be affected by the “anti-Congress wave” created by the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).
Another factor likely to hurt the party’s prospects is the “agreement” between the NCP and the United Democratic Party (UDP) to help each other out in key constituencies.
Also doing rounds are reports that to take on the Congress in an united manner, the Meghalaya Democratic Party (MDP) is mulling the possibility of merging with the NCP. Leaders of the two parties have reportedly met several times to discuss the issue.
The parties concerned have, however, refused to confirm the development. Though neither the NCP nor the UDP has admitted the “agreement”, sources said the “understanding” is evident in Resubelpara (East Garo Hills) and Nongpoh (Ri Bhoi), Marak and Lapang’s seats.
The NCP has reportedly decided against fielding its candidate Lonsing Bay, a Karbi tribal, in Nongpoh and will instead support UDP’s Constantine Lyngdoh.
Lapang had lost to the UDP candidate in the 1993 elections by a huge margin.
The NCP fears that Lapang could use to his advantage the fact that Nongpoh has a big Karbi votebank.
“We are still working on this constituency and it is too early to say,” said NCP president Robert Kharshiing today.
He said the party’s election committee would decide on the rest of the constituencies tomorrow.
In Resubelpara, Marak is up against NCP nominee Timothy D. Shira. A former UDP member, Shira’s name was cleared only after a meeting between the NCP and the UDP recently.