Meghalaya Polls 2023: MPCC to announce 40 names in 1st candidate list

The Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) will soon announce 40 candidates in the first list, which will be declared after the All India Congress Committee’s approval, said MPCC president Vincent H. Pala today.

The Pradesh election committee will hold its first meeting on December 29, and after finalising the names of the candidates, the list will be sent to Delhi for AICC approval. The party aims to file candidates in all 60 assembly seats for the upcoming elections.

Though MPCC is contesting Meghalaya elections for the first time with no sitting MLAs, Pala exuded confidence that his party will win 30 of the 40 seats since the undercurrent for the party is strong. He said that 16 Members of District Council (MDCs), sitting MDCs, former MDCs, and former MLAs will be contesting the elections, with the remaining being fresh candidates.

“If we give the people qualified candidates who are not corrupt, they will turn to Congress,” he said.

Pala said that in places like Mawphlang, Sohiong and Nongthymmai senior leaders of the party like Kennedy Khyriem, HDR Lyngdoh and Charles Pyngrope joined other parties and they are being replaced with equally strong candidates.

Pala said that only Congress can bring back the glory of Meghalaya, be it tourism, employment, law and order situation, education and others. He said challenges will always be there and Congress will accept the challenges and overcome them. He also stated that the party is not worried about someone leaving the party and joining other parties.

He stated that other parties in the state have been attempting to organise their parties for 5-6 years and that no one is willing to participate and help them from the grassroots level, leaving them with no choice but to try to lure Congress candidates. “We’re used to it now,” he said.

Copy edited by Lipika Roy

Also Read: Meghalaya Polls 2023: NPP’s Ampareen Lyngdoh, Mohendro Rapsang to contest East and West Shillong seats