Congress defeat not to affect poll prospect : Rymbai

Shillong, Dec 7 (UNI) Meghalaya Chief Minister J D Rymbai and his predecessor D D Lapang today ruled out that the party's defeat in the Rongjeng bypoll would have any bearing on the Assembly election.

'' It will not affect our party's prospect for the Assembly election, '' Mr Lapang told newspersons after the party's Legislature wing meeting at the residence of Mr Rymbai.

'' The reason for us losing this bypoll is also because of the state Congress failure to convince the two Independent candidates not to contest the election, '' the former Chief Minister pointed out.

NCP candidate Desang M Sangma, a former militant leader of the disbanded A'chik Liberation Matgrik Army, secured 7,415 votes, while the Congress secured 2,342 votes.

The two Independent candidates -- former state Transport Minister and senior Congress leader Sujit K Sangma polled 2,744 votes and Congress Garo Hills Autonomous District Council member Ashutosh Marak secured 2,222 votes.

Both Mr Sangma and Mr Marak contested the bypoll as Independent candiadtes after being denied Congress tickets.

Brushing aside the main reason of the defeat of Congress candidate Mettrinson G Momin due to ''inner-squabblings'' in the Congress, both Mr Rymbai and Mr Lapang said, '' We have tried our best to ensure the vicory of our candidate and we accept the defeat.

'' '' We will not blame anyone for the defeat as it is the people's mandate, '' Mr Rymbai said.

Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee president Onward L Nongtdu said the party would review the reason behind the Congress' failure to retain the seat.

Earlier, former Lok Sabha Speaker and NCP leader Purno A Sangma said his party will give a tough fight to the Congress during the 2008 Assembly polls.

'' The thumping victory of our candidate in the bypoll has indicated that the NCP will sweep the Assembly poll in Garo Hills, '' Mr Sangma told UNI over the phone from East Garo Hills district.

BJP Legislator Alexander L Hek said, '' NCP's landslide victory in the Rongjeng bypoll points towards its victory in the coming assembly election. '' '' This victory indicates that the people are fed up with the Congress due to the intra-party bickerings for power, '' Mr Hek said.

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