Triangular contest on card for Roing by-poll

Itanagar, Nov 22 (UNI) With the countdown for by-election to Roing assembly constituency in Arunachal Pradesh beginning, the deck has been cleared for a triangular contest between ruling Congress, Opposition BJP and a strong Independent.

Various political parties have geared up their activities to win the battle of ballots for the December four election, while the Congress is leaving no stone unturned to retain the prestigious seat; the BJP too is busy in preparing poll strategy to add to their number of legislators.

Altogether three candidates are in the fray, including Dature Miuli of the Congress, Raje Menjo of the BJP and Independent candidate Laeta Umbrey.

Arunachal Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) President Omen Moyong Deori had recently expelled Laeta Umbrey, former MP, from the primary membership of the party for a period of six years for breach of party discipline. Mr Umbrey had filed nomination as Independent candidate after being denied party tickets.

The by-poll was necessitated following resignation of sitting MLA Mukut Mithi after being appointed as Puducherry Lt. Governor recently.

According to political observers here, the presence of popular leader of the area Laeta Umbrey as an Independent candidate would make the contest a tough one for both the Congress as well as the BJP.

With Congress at the helm of affairs, it would not be an easy sailing for the party candidate as BJP as well as the Independent would give tough resistance, they felt.

Chief Minister Gegong Apang and APCC chief O M Deori would be the star campaigner for the party candidate, according to sources here.

Meanwhile, the Congress during a meeting had unanimously decided to maintain peace during the entire election process and work unitedly for the landslide victory for its candidate.

The party had also constituted a committee comprising Health Minister C C Singpho, Public Health Engineering Minister Tatar Kipa and APCC vigilance committee chairman Yikar Yomcha to oversee the entire election process, sources added.

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