AICC rushes party secretary to stem dissidence in Meghalaya

Shillong, Dec 11 (UNI) The All India Congress Committee has rushed its secretary Major (retd) Ved Prakash to Meghalaya to galvanise the party, even as ticket aspirants have threatened to contest the assembly elections against official candidates.

Major Prakash, who arrived here last evening, met Chief Minister DD Lapang and Pradesh Congress president OL Nongtdu and discussed with them the over-all political situation in the state.

The AICC is also scheduled to meet Congress ticket aspirants, who were denied tickets, and appeal to them to exercise restraint so as to ensure that the party wins the assembly polls with a ''thumping majority''.

Fresh elections would be held in next February, along with two other states--Nagaland and Tripura.

However, most ticket aspirants had decided to contest the elections against the party's official nominees.

''We have no other option, but to go against the party as the electorate have asked us to contest the elections,'' said Edmund S Lyngdoh, who was denied a party ticket.

Former Chief Minister J D Rymbai, Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council Chief Executive Member H S Shylla, former Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council's Edmund S Lyngdoh, Mahendraganj MLA Nidhuram Hajong and Tura MLA Billy Kid Sangma were not in the Congress fray.

KHADC Chief H S Shylla had expressed surprise over denial of party ticket to him and pointed out that his name was removed from the list of candidates ''at the last minute''.

Mr Shylla had also questioned the party leadership as to why Mr W K Kyndiah's name was written by hand on the list of poll nominees.

Maj Prakash, however, maintained that there was no manipulation.

''We will ensure that everyone works for the party to ensure victory of the party in the 2008 Assembly elections,'' the AICC leader said.

Meanwhile, the Congress high command had summoned top functionaries of the state unit including, the Chief Minister, PCC president and Mr Shylla to discuss dissidence in the party ahead of the elections.

UNI