The Mawryngkneng Block Congress Committee has urged the father of the late MLA David Nongrum to reconsider his decision to not field a candidate from the family in the upcoming by-election from Mawryngkneng constituency.
Nongrum had passed away suddenly on February 2. His father, Charles Pyngrope, is the sitting MLA for Nongthymmai.
Following Nongrum’s death, Pyngrope had said that there is no intention on the part of his family to put up a candidate for the vacant seat.
The Congress in Mawryngkneng had held a meeting yesterday with Pyngrope to appeal to him to nominate a candidate from his family.
“The committee, as well as the entire Mawryngkneng constituency, believe that his (Nongrum’s) family will be suited to follow in his footsteps with proper guidance from his father as the people from the constituency admire his work and will confidently support anyone who contests from his family” said Banshanglang Lawai, the committee president.
However, Lawai said that the people’s love for the family continues and thus a suitable candidate from Nongrum’s relatives would give the Congress a strong shot at retaining the Mawryngkneng seat.
“For two terms the people of Mawryngkneng had chosen the late Nongrum as our representative because he was a visionary leader and there is a strong bond between the people and his family. Therefore, with confidence, we felt that the constituency needs the service of late Nongrum through his family members,” Lawai added.
If Pyngrope’s family still declines, the committee will select a candidate and submit the name for approval of the State party leadership.
“As a party we are confident that we will come back to power in the constituency and the party is ready against all odds for the upcoming by-election even if the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance fields a common candidate,” he stated.
