Meghalaya: UDP rules out possibilities of common candidate for Ranikor by-poll

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By Our Reporter, TNT News | Shillong, June 25, 2018:

The United Democratic Party (UDP) has ruled out the possibilities of putting up a common candidate for the bye-election in Ranikor Assembly constituency, after the seat fell vacant following the resignation of former Congress legislator, Martin M Danggo few days ago.

"The possibility for a common candidate does not arise. We are putting up candidate for the bye election in Ranikor constituency," UDP vice president, Allantry F Dkhar informed here today.

While ruling out any kind of negative impact on the alliance by this decision of the party, he said that the seat does not belong to the NPP. "The NPP will have to comply with the decision of the party," he said.

Earlier, the UDP Ranikor circle had stated that they are gearing up for the bye-election even as seeking the support of other political parties to ensure the defeat of the ex-MLA, MM Danggo. The party unit also views that the party candidate, Pius Marwein, who had unsuccessfully contested the last Assembly elections, should again be given an opportunity to contest the bye-election.

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On the other hand, the Congress had earlier expressed it confidence of retaining the Ranikor seat stating that the constituency has always been a Congress bastion and will continue to remain so.

Danggo last week had resigned from the post of the MLA and as member of the Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC).

The former Congress MLA was given seven days deadline by his supporters to resigned from the post of the MLA after Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma during his visit to Ranikor on June 13 last had announced that the area deserves a civil sub division.

The Ranikor Civil Sub Division will be formally inaugurated on July 10.

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