“It will be a multi-cornered contest, other parties are also strong enough,” says Cong Shillong candidate and MP Vincent Pala

Vincent Pala spoke to Northeast Live despite his busy campaign tour and sounded absolutely confident about his victory, as he eyes a 4th straight term as an MP.

The race for the Shillong Lok Sabha seat that goes to polls on April 19 has only intensifed with every passing day. Political parties are reaching out to the voters in every nook and corner of the parliamentary on the basis of different agendas.

Elected thrice to the Lok Sabha from the Shillong parliamentary seat so far and the present MP Vincent H Pala is on a blazing campaign trail in the Jaintia Hills.

Accompanied by local leaders and grassroot workers Pala was today seen drumming up support for himself at Namdong, 100-kms from Shillong.

Northeast Live is on ground zero to capture the election mood and followed the incumbent Shillong Lok Sabha in his campaign trail that began from Shillong.

Interestingly, the Congress candidate is not only relying on holding massive rallies or public gatherings, but Pala was seen today seen addressing the voters near a market place. According to Pala, the Congress is reaching out to people in every packet.

While traders and buyers were engaged in the trade, the Congress candidate continued with his election speech highlighting the issues and his agendas.

Pala in his way from Shillong also met people visiting their houses, shops and even stopping his car to speak to people along the road in an attempt to directly connect with the voters.

Pala spoke to Northeast Live despite his busy campaign tour and sounded absolutely confident about his victory, as he eyes a 4th straight term as an MP.

Sharing his plans and agendas, Pala said, “I am telling my people that for the safety, security of the tribals, the minorities, the only party who looks after all of us is the Congress party, who always keep the promises. The Congress party is always for the poor, the Congress party is for every citizen.”

Pala was asked as to how confident he was since he is facing contest from incumbent Meghalaya cabinet minister and NPP candidate Ampareen Lyngdoh who has been backed by the BJP.

“I think it’s not only Ampareen who is the candidate, all of us are equally strong this time. So I definitely see that it will be a multi-cornered contest, other parties are also strong enough. I hope that whenever all parties are strong so the better chance is for the seating candidate,” Pala said.

Pala also spoke on the action plans if he is elected again. He said, “We have got lot of pending works in terms of the Northeast Industrial Policy, in terms of land customs, widenning of roads, improvement of roads in the Northeast, especially in Meghalaya. I am sure that we will take up all these issues. In terms of educational institutions lots of pending works are there and definitely we will have to look after it.”

“I am confident that people this time will give more support than before,” the Shillong MP added.

Rating his performance as an MP, Vincent Pala said, “Definitely you know, I am not very happy in the sense that whatever proposal we give, whatever efforts we make, in this government they are biased. For example in the Land Customs stations, met the ministers many times to reduce the poverty level of the people in Northeast. As Meghalaya has more than 400-km boundary with Bangladesh we requested them to open a new Land Customs station and improve the existing Land Customs stations. But they turned a blind eye on it.”

Pala was first elected to the Lok Sabha from the Shillong seat in 2009. After that there was no looking back for the Congress leader as he successfully contested the parliamentary elections from the same seat in 2014 and 2019.

Other candidates vying for the Shillong Lok Sabha seat include state cabinet minister Ampareen Lyngdoh of the National People’s Party (NPP), Ricky Andrew J Syngkon of Voice of the People Party (VPP), Robertjune Kharjahrin of the United Democratic Party (UDP) and two independent candidates — Lakhon Kma and Peter Shallam.

Also watch: “It will be a multi-cornered contest, other parties are also strong enough,” says Cong Shillong candidate and MP Vincent Pala

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