Congress flays BJP of poaching leaders

* We will retain power in Meghalaya: Joshi

FROM OUR STAFF CORRESPONDENT

SHILLONG, Jan 24: The probable mes of the Congress aspirants for the 60th Legislative Assembly segments is in the envelope taken by the General Secretary of the All India Congress Committee ( AICC) CP Joshi who left for Delhi on Wednesday.

The Meghalaya Pradesh Election Committee (MPEC) held a marathon meeting on Tuesday before short-listing the applicants numbering 90. Sources said that the numbers of the chosen ones have dwindled further on the basis of the Chief Minister intervention – with an aim to extract the maximum seats out of the legislative assembly seats.

Asked on the possible candidates who are likely to be chosen for the upcoming electoral fray, the AICC General Secretary CP Joshi said, “I have got the inputs about the party preparedness. The feedback and the recommended mes will be taken to the scrutinizing committee and the Central election committee headed by Rahul Gandhi.” He added that there is more than a single applicant for the party ticket in multiple constituencies which the high command will decide upon.

With time slowly running out, questions were raised as to how the Congress party would go into the electoral battle when a number of candidates have featured in the recommended list of the MPEC, Joshi iterated that the CEC of the Party headed by Rahul Gandhi will take the fil call.

 Asked on the tentative dates where the party would announce its candidates, the AICC leader dodged the question by saying that it will be made known before the day of filing of nomitions. The Sentinel has already learnt that the decision in at least 40 odd constituencies will take place by Monday, leaving aside those segments where the party is having second thought on the applicants.

The Congress received a jolt in at least five constituencies when their sitting legislators along with its associated legislators jumped ship. Furthermore, the decision of three legislators to retire from active politics has added to the Congress woes.

Joshi stated adding, “The people know how the NPP are hands in glove with the BJP, how the regiol parties are members of its NEDA and they are supporting the BJP directly or indirectly.”

Meanwhile agencies reports say that voicing confidence that the Congress will retain power in Meghalaya, senior party leader CP Joshi on Wednesday said there is no space for the BJP’s ideology in the State.

“Given the culture and the way of life of the people of Meghalaya, ideologically speaking, there is no space for the Bharatiya Jata Party here (Meghalaya),” he told jourlists here.  Joshi, the Congress General Secretary in-charge of Meghalaya affairs, has held several meetings with Chief Minister Mukul Sangma, Congress State unit President Celestine Lyngdoh and others to chart out the ruling party’s strategy for the February 27 Assembly polls. “The BJP is busy poaching candidates from other political parties and is hoping to form the next Government in Meghalaya,” he said.