The state unit of the Congress Party is optimistic about securing a win in the upcoming MDC election from Umroi constituency. This optimism follows the decision of the working president of the Umroi Constituency Progressive Forum (UCPF), MD Syiem, to join the Congress and seek a ticket to contest the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) election from Umroi a few days ago.
The UCPF was formed in December for local Trinamool Congress (TMC) members once that party’s Umroi unit dissolved itself. It was led by former MLA George B Lyngdoh. However, Syiem wanted the UCPF nomination for himself and Lyngdoh reportedly stepped aside but Syiem went ahead and joined the Congress anyway.
The Congress had invited the UCPF members to join it but Lyngdoh had informed last week that the forum had decided against taking this path. However, a somewhat contradictory narrative has emerged whereby it is said that the UCPF had granted authority to the executive committee to finalise the merge with the Congress; Syiem appears to be part of a faction that favoured joining the Congress.
State Congress leaders expressed confidence that the party will achieve significant victories across several constituencies in Ri-Bhoi, especially in Umroi.
