They may have effectively been reduced to zero seats in the Assembly, a rude shock to the system for a party that has dominated Meghalaya politics in recent years, but the Congress Party is sounding bullish about its chances at next year’s state election.
With 12 MLAs having defected to the Trinamool Congress (TMC) last year and the remaining five being suspended for offering the state government support against the party’s wishes, the Congress has been left with no voice in the 60-member Assembly.
Nonetheless, it is planning to field candidates in all constituencies next year. This was confirmed by the All India Congress Committee member in charge of Meghalaya, Manish Chatrath, at a press conference today.
“There will be a few surprises. A lot of people are wanting to join but, as of now, let’s keep it as a surprise. We will fight all 60 seats,” he said.
Meanwhile, state Congress president and Shillong MP Vincent Pala confirmed that he is planning to contest the election next year because, as president, he should “lead from the front.”
“My decision to fight elections is not mine alone – all the party leaders suggested that I should contest,” he said.
Regarding rumours that the AICC wants its ex-Chief Minister and leader among the Trinamool defectors, Dr Mukul Sangma, back, Chatrath said that he is not aware of any such move and neither was Pala.
When asked if the Congress is willing to work with the TMC if there is a hung Assembly after the polls, Chatrath said that it is too early to comment on such a possibility but the Congress is sure to get a majority.
On potential candidates, the AICC member said that there is a long process that involves the Congress grassroot organisations all the way to the state-level party and then the AICC. However, “all this is done only after the dates of the election are announced. Then only the process of selecting candidates is carried out,” he said, adding that the party has no face to lead the election campaign as “not even one” ticket has been finalised yet.
Although it will be starting with no MLAs, the Congress leader was sure that the party will be able to bounce back from its nadir.
“There were people with no political background who formed governments in other states. But we are one of the oldest parties. We have our organisation intact, we have our vote base too and I know the people of this state are looking for a change and they love the Congress Party,” Chatrath said.
