Congress consitutes standing committee ahead of assembly polls

Shillong, Aug 3 (UNI) Preparing for the upcoming assembly in four Northeastern states, the Congress party today constituted a standing committee to look into issues concerning respective states in the region.

The committee was conceived during the North East Congress Coordination Committee (NECC) meeting, which discussed about Congress prospects in the forthcoming Assembly elections in the region.

Union Labour Minister and AICC general secretary in-charge North East Oscar Fernandes, Meghalaya and Manipur Chief Minister D D Lapang and Okram Ibobi Singh, Arunachal Pradesh Minister Naban Tuki, former Mizoram Chief Minister Lalthanhawla, AICC Mahila Vice- President Wansuk Syiem besides senior Congress leaders from the region attended the meeting.

Meghalaya, Nagaland and Tripura would go for fresh elections in February next. Mizoram would face the general election in November.

Talking to reporters after the meeting, Mr Lapang said the standing committee would raise several issues such as the vexed inter-state boundary row between Assam with Nagaland, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya and expansion of the size of the ministry in the Northeastern with the Centre and the AICC.

On the assembly polls, Mr Lapang said the committee would urge the AICC to take a minimum time to approve the list of candidates, contesting the assembly polls in the region.

He also said the NECC had directed the state Congress units in the four states to prepare the manifesto at the earliest to allow its workers to explain the electorates of the party visions.

UNI