Congress chief Vincent H Pala has accused the National People’s Party of misusing the government machinery for electoral benefits.
The Election Commission is yet to announce the date for the Gambegre by-poll that fell vacant after the resignation of sitting Congress MLA Saleng A. Sangma on June 10 following his election as Lok Sabha MP from the Tura parliamentary seat.
Pala said the NPP-led government in the state has already taken advantage by being in power. “The dates have not been announced yet, let us see. Normally, in elections, the government misuses the government machinery, and in this case, they are already doing it,” he stated.
While the Congress is confident that it will be able to retain the Gambegre Assembly seat when the by-election is eventually held, Pala said the block leaders have been asked to recommend names of prospective candidates even for the district council polls.
Stating that there is a “new energy” within the party even after desertions he said, “Out of the three constituencies, the MLAs left us two. We have already reorganized, and the third will also be reorganized.”
He added, “The rest we are doing well. We are ready for elections, given instructions to the blocks to submit the list, and if they have somebody on their mind, they can also pitch for that.”
Stating that party tickets are normally decided by the party high command at the state level Pala said, “We have decided that they will recommend from the block and only if they are unable to do so from the block then we will decide at the MPCC level, we will take a call or else we won’t interfere.”
The Congress chief also denied links with the Trinamool Congress and said since both the parties are in the opposition, issues that concern the people will be raised by both in the Assembly.
