Shillong, Nov 11: Congress MDC from Mawkhar-Pynthorumkhrah Pynshngainlang N Syiem has said poll debacle in the by elections to the three Assembly constituencies will not affect the 2023 general elections.
Syiem also expressed confidence that the Congress will still emerge powerful in 2023.
This is because people have realised that the previous Congress-led governments in Meghalaya handled and governed the state well despite various crises unlike the present government led by the NPP, Syiem told reporters.
On the plan of Trinamool Congress to make inroads into Meghalaya politics, Syiem said the emerging parties may have a small impact on a big well-organised party like Congress but will have a bigger impact on small parties in the state.
The former Mawsynram legislator blamed the rebel candidates and money power behind the defeat of the Congress in the bypolls.
“The Congress lost the bypolls in the three constituencies because of rebel candidates who fought against the official party nominees. The other reason is that very few parties contested in the by-polls and the other is the money factor since the winning candidates belong to the ruling coalition,” Syiem said.
The situation would be different in general elections where all the parties will contest and fend for themselves, he added.
