Congress ticket aspirant turns rebel

FROM A CORRESPONDENT

SHILLONG, Jan 28: A day after the Congress med its candidate from the Jirang constituency in Ri-Bhoi district, an aspirant for the party ticket has now turned rebel.

Badhok Nongmalieh, had also applied for the party ticket but another contender Witness Sancley was given the Congress ticket. On Sunday, the members of the Jirang Block Congress Committee (JBCC), the Mahila Block Congress and members of its youth wing, decided to leave the party and support Nongmalieh.

The leaders said that Nongmalieh will soon decided if he would contest as an independent candidate or join another political party.

jim Kharmalki, a supporter of Nongmalieh, blamed the Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) chief Dr Celestine Lyngdoh and Shillong Lok Sabha MP, Vincent Pala for denying him the party ticket.

Kharmalki alleged that the duo did not respect the wish of the public of Jirang to allot the Congress ticket to Nongmalieh.

Kharmalki had also alleged that Pala has eight months back even persolly encouraged Sancley to contest from BJP.

He said that the action of the MPCC leaders was just want to bring the Congress down at Jirang Constituency.

Meanwhile, Nongmalieh alleged manipulation by the MPCC leaders along with the high command in Delhi.

He also said that he felt betrayed by the MPCC leaders.