No Big Rally, No Star Campaigner For Congress In Meghalaya Assembly Elections, Says MPCC President

The Congress will not hold big rallies or have star campaigners for the February 27 assembly elections in Meghalaya, but will instead focus on connecting with voters, a senior party leader said on Sunday.

With 80 per cent of our candidates contesting assembly elections for the first time with fresh faces, Congress will focus on visiting voters’ homes and organizing small rallies at the local community level to connect with voters so that they get to know their candidates, Meghalaya Congress President Vincent H Pala said.

“We will not have star campaigners and there will be no big political rallies. Instead, we will focus on and adopt what is best in the political dynamics of the state. People here like to know about their candidates more than party affiliation.

The Meghalaya Congress president said he himself would not host big rallies in the Satanga-Saipung constituency from where he is contesting the assembly polls.

Pala said, “I will participate in constituency-based rallies and party meetings called by party candidates and their supporters.” The remaining five who were suspended for their anti-party activities also left the party.

However, he expressed confidence that the traditional Congress voters have not deserted the party.

“Leaders may have left other political parties and joined other political parties, but the voters have remained with us (Congress). I have the feedback to believe it and we will see the results on 2nd March.

Pala expressed confidence that the Congress would win 30-35 seats in the 60-member Meghalaya Assembly in the elections to be held on February 27. He said the party has fielded many young and new faces as the state needs young leaders to lead.

According to political observers, the Congress is not alone in adopting a strategy to connect with voters in the hill state.

Manosh Das, an analyst and political observer, said, “We have seen candidates winning elections in Meghalaya who connect really well with voters, irrespective of their party affiliation.” ,

Das said politics in Meghalaya is unique and different and people here are not easily swayed by big rallies and big parties.

“Political parties are like big teams in sports and candidates having strong relation with public are like best players. Teams select good players on the basis of victory.”

He cited the examples of former minister AL Hek and cabinet minister Sambor Shullai, both now with the BJP, who have managed to retain their seats despite their party affiliations in the past.

Das also pointed out how the Trinamool Congress came from behind and snatched 12 of the 17 Congress MLAs, including former Chief Minister Mukul Sangma and former Speaker Charles Pingrope.

“On its own, TMC would have drawn a vacuum in this hill state. However, with the set of MLAs they now have, they are a force at least in the Garo Hills region and are expected to win some seats there.”

With a new entrant KAM coming close to contesting the upcoming elections with three candidates, another senior political analyst Dimaiya Siangshai said people here closely watch their politics.

KAM convenor Angela Rangad and her colleagues are fighting on the streets for the rights of the underprivileged and the poor in the streets of Shillong.

“I am meeting people in the comfort of their homes, listening to them and discussing people’s agenda. I have almost finished visiting every house in South Shillong.”

“People like to sit and talk and discuss issues with the candidates who come to their homes. Those who manage to connect during house visits are likely to get votes,” Siangshai said.

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(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed)