Shillong:Congress in Meghalaya is in rebuilding phase and it looks like the grand old party has put its faith on the youth and women to recapture its lost glory in the poll bound hilly state.
More than 20 candidates figuring in the list of 60 candidates are first-timers and 10, including former Minister Deborah C. Mark, are women.
“Meghalaya needs change. Meghalaya needs a new beginning. Meghalaya needs to be free from corruption and scams and Congress is the only answer to all the problems that afflict this beautiful land of ours.” Vincent Pala, President of Meghalaya Pradesh Committee (MPCC), told UNI.
According to the party election strategist, despite being a matrilineal society, women were underrepresented in the political scene of the state.
“We want to bring in more women into politics, that’s the reason we have announced 10 women candidates out of the 60 seats that we are contesting, i.e. 1/6th of all our candidates are women,” Pala added.
On the youthful look of the candidate list, Sanjay Das, General Secretary of MPCC, said since nearly 75 percent of the population of Meghalaya is below the age of 35, the Congress feels young and upcoming leaders will be the future faces of the party. So five office bearers of the Meghalaya Pradesh Youth Congress (MPYC), and many other young and aspiring candidates, have also been given tickets to contest the upcoming elections.
Adrian L Chyne Mylliem, President of MPYC from Jirang, Karak R Sangma, General Secretary of MPYC from Chokpot, Dr. Tweel Marak, General Secretary of MPYC from Resubelpara,Timjim Momin, District President North Garo Hills from Mendipathar, Lakyntiew Sohkhlet, General Secretary of MPYC from Sohra, Manual Badwar, candidate from East Shillong are all below the age of 35, and will be contesting the assembly elections slated for February 27.
“Though many in our state have left or deserted the party for greener pastures, it will make no difference. My future lies with the Congress and I will work hard for the bright future of the party
and the state,” Adrian L Chyne Mylliem, a foreign-educated young candidate who is contesting the upcoming polls, told UNI.
After being ousted from power in 2018 despite having emerged as the single-largest party with 21 seats in the Assembly polls that year, the Congress in Meghalaya has kept losing its legislators.
It received a major jolt when 12 party MLAs joined the Trinamool Congress in November 2021.
The party was left with no MLAs in 2022 when five of them aligned with the National People’s Party-led coalition government, of which the BJP is a constituent. These five subsequently joined other parties.
