Shillong, Mar 26: Congress candidate from Shillong Vincent Pala has pointed out that NPP nominee Ampareen Lyngdoh is likely under pressure by the BJP and CBI and hence she speaks in their favour.
The CBI had chargesheeted Ampareen following the education scam and the case is pending.
Speaking to journalists after filing nomination papers on Tuesday, Pala said that ethically it is not good for him to comment on other candidates just because they are making so many adverse comments against him.
Ampareen recently said she is very familiar with the Congress turf and is ready to unseat Pala.
In his response, Pala, however, admitted that Ampareen had campaigned for him in the last 3 elections.
“Extensively, she had campaigned all over Khasi-Jaintia Hills, she praised me a lot during the elections. Now, when she left for that side, I think the CBI forced her to say something or the BJP forced her to say something, I will not say anything but she was very helpful to me, she was very good to me,” Pal said.
“I don’t want when somebody is under CBI, when somebody has so many things, they may have to speak what they don’t mean also. You know sometimes you mean what you don’t talk and sometimes you talk what you don’t mean. I don’t want to reply or say anything on this issue,” Pala said.
Responding to the allegation that he has a soft corner for the NPP, Pala said, “I have a soft corner for all parties. I think it is not hard or soft corner to win elections, it is how people will trust you. I take politics as politics and friendship as friendship and individual personal relation is something different. I think it is not that I have a soft corner for any party but I think as a small state and small community, we should work together for the benefit of the people and not for my personal benefit, so the question of soft and hard doesn’t arise.”
Besides Pala, RDA supported UDP nominee (Robertjune Kharjahrin) VPP(Ricky RJ Syngkon) and Independent candidate Lakhon Kma filed nominations from the Shillong parliamentary seat on Tuesday for the LS polls to be held on April 19.
In Tura, Agatha Sangma (NPP) and Saleng Sangma (Congress) filed their papers.
Earlier, NPP candidate and cabinet minister Ampareen and Independent candidate Peter Shallam (58) had filed their nominations during the third day of filing of nominations.
Altogether six candidates will contest from the Shillong parliamentary constituency after the BJP has decided to extend full support to the NPP.
The last date of filing of nomination will be on March 27.
The scrutiny of nominations will be held on March 28 and the last date of withdrawal of candidatures will be on March 30.
