Congress victor from Mylliem, Ronnie V Lyngdoh, expressed his joy over the public’s mandate to hand defeats to several former MLA who left the party for other outfits.
The Congress was plagued by defections in its previous term but several of those legislators were defeated today, such as Kimfa Sydney Marbaniang (Rambrai Jyrngam), Mohendro Rapsang (West Shillong), Dikkanchi D Shira (Mahendraganj), Zenith M Sangma (Rangsakona), Dr Mukul Sangma (Tikrikilla though he won from Songsak), Process T Sawkmie (Mawlai), Himalaya Shangpliang (Mawsynram), Winnerson Sangma (Salmanpara), Shitlang Pale (Sutnga Saipung) and George B Lyngdoh (Umroi).
“The happiest thing for me this time is the public mandate that has ousted most of the turncoats who betrayed the Congress Party and the mandate of the people. I am also very happy for the mandate given by the people to people like Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit of the VPP (the new Voice of the People Party, which scored some notable successes),” he told reporters after he was declared winner.
Ronnie just pipped VPP candidate Aibandaplin F Lyngdoh by 38 votes in the Mylliem race. The win puts Ronnie back in the Assembly after he lost five years ago to Hamletson Dohling, who finished only third in the contest this time.
On why the National People’s Party (NPP) and United Democratic Party (UDP) did well in the election, he said that they won through “money power”.
On the defeat of the state party president Vincent Pala in Sutnga Saipung, Ronnie maintained that Pala is still the Shillong MP and can continue to serve the people in Parliament.
When asked, he said that the Congress is willing to support like-minded parties that will strive towards good governance and work for the betterment and upliftment of the people and improve their standard of living. He alleged that the previous government had no regard for the public and looted them in every possible way in terms of electricity, health, coal, etc.
“It is a matter of great disgrace to see that the people known as the ‘high-levels’ are travelling in vehicles that cost crores of rupees while the poor of the state don’t even have money to buy medicines for their children,” the former cabinet minister, who is also Mylliem MDC, said.
“Let’s not make politics a platform for corruption but a platform of hope for the people of the state,” he maintained.
