Congress banks on sympathy vote in Meghalaya by-poll

Shillong, Nov 28 (UNI) Unable to field a suitable candidate, the ruling Congress in Meghalaya is now banking on 'sympathy vote' for the December four Rongjeng poll .

The Rongjeng poll was necessitated after the sudden death of Associate Congress legislator Predickson G Momin on July 30, 2006.

Mettrinson Momin, late Predickson G Momin's relative, would be the canditate for the ensuing December polls.

Mr Mettrinson, who is a retired government employee at the state's Khadi and Village Industries Board (KVIC), was preferred over former Congress transport minister Sujjit K Sangma and Garo Hills Autonomous District Council member Ashutosh Marak.

Both Mr Sangma and Marak, who had deserted the party after being refused party tickets, were contesting as independent candidates.

This move had been an advantage to Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) candidate Desang Sangma, have already started their campaign, sources said.

The NCP had made the last year's police firing incident in Garo Hills as the main issue for the election.

'' The September 30 firing incident will definitely figure in the election campaign,'' NCP spokesperson Conrad Sangma told newsmen here.

Chief Minister JD Rymbai and former chief minister D D Lapang have already campaigned in the constituency.

The Rongjeng election would be an ''acid test'' for the ruling Congress with Garo hills issue as the reason for tug-of-war between the Chief Minister and his predecessor D D Lapang.

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