SHILLONG, APR 28: Congress chief and former Shillong MP Vincent H Pala said he is considering contesting the upcoming Shillong Lok Sabha byelection, with the party expected to finalise its candidate by May 15 after another round of consultations.
The seat fell vacant following the death of former VPP MP Dr Ricky AJ Syngkon on February 19.
Pala had finished runner-up to Dr Syngkon in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.
“I think we don’t have anybody. I have to contest but the formal meeting (to finalise the decision is being awaited)… last time we had a meeting and a resolution was sent to Delhi that I should be contesting but we didn’t take the views of all the blocks and districts,” Pala told reporters on Tuesday.
“I think we will have another meeting maybe after May 10, then we will decide.”
Pala said an earlier proposal recommending his name was sent to the AICC, but he had asked for time.
“There was one meeting, which they have proposed my name and that has been sent to Delhi but at that time I told them wait because I have to discuss with my family and friends and so let us have another round of meeting,” he said.
While noting that most party leaders want him to run, he stressed others could also be in contention.
“So we will have another round of meeting and hopefully they should be able to decide but it doesn’t mean that I am the only one, maybe others also. Let us hope and let us see but majority of them they told me to contest,” Pala said.
He outlined the formal process ahead. “Not yet finalised… for Shillong, when they decide for the candidate, we have to send from the state to the central and in the central, there will be an election authority who will look after all over India so they will finalise the name,” he said.
“As of today, we have not even sent the names. We have only sent the resolution but we have to send in a proper format, not only for Meghalaya but many other states like in Assam as there will be byelections,” he added, referring to MPs who may resign after winning recent MLA elections.
“Even the proposal, we will sit again now and we will revise and think as we have to have a strategy for it,” Pala said.
Asked for a timeline, he replied, “Within May 15, we should be able to finalise (the candidate for the byelection).”
Explaining his initial reluctance, Pala said, “Last time we had a meeting, the district presidents from 36 blocks and many leaders of the party unanimously they have recommended my name but that time I did not say yes as I have to talk to members of my family because I lost the election and I decided at that time that I will not fight election.”
He said the party had been preparing MPCC secretary Manuel Badwar for the next general election.
“I have taken MPCC secretary Manuel Badwar everywhere to fight for next MP election as we did not expect there will be a byelection. With the byelection coming, they told me to reconsider and rethink, that is why I told them let me think about it,” he said.
On groundwork, Pala said the Congress has stepped up organisational meetings.
“We are organising all the district presidents at the same time we are organising at the block level now. For the last one month, we are on the job. We do have a meeting every day,” he said, citing recent meetings in Mylliem and Ri Bhoi.
“We are now concentrating in organising the party at the different level including district and block level. At the block level, we have all. Out of 36 blocks, one or two blocks we have to renew them otherwise we have block and district presidents,” Pala added.
