State Congress working president Deborah C. Marak today made it clear that she is not interested in contesting the Gambegre Assembly by-election as she is not from West Garo Hills.
Making it clear that the party will follow procedures and would invite applications from interested candidates, she added that the party as of now has not decided on anyone as a party candidate for the Gambegre by-poll.
It may be mentioned that the Gambegre constituency is lying vacant after sitting MLA Saleng Sangma won the Tura Lok Sabha election after which he resigned as MLA of the constituency.
Marak admitted that the dynamics of politics will be different in the by-poll even as she asserted that the Congress party will fight to win and the party will field a strong candidate.
According to her, the people of Gambegre constituency are still with Saleng Sangma who was a four time MLA and an MDC for one term.
“People there have a natural connection with Saleng Sangma and they will vote for Saleng Sangma’s personality and image,” Marak added.
However, she cautioned that party leaders should not be over confident following the recent win in Lok Sabha election from Tura parliamentary seat and they must work hard as a team to win the polls whenever it is scheduled.
Meanwhile, the ruling NPP seems to be gearing up for the Gambegre by-election with Mehtab Chandee Sangma, wife of Chief Minister Conrad Sangma, emerging as a front runner to get the party ticket.
The NPP has zeroed down on the name of Mehtab Chandee from the four shortlisted aspirants for party ticket.