Mawryngkneng Block Congress Committee stares at a split, row over Highlander Kharmalki’s candidature
Unhappy with the decision of the Congress to field Highlander Kharmalki from the seat, a section of the Mawryngkneng Block Congress Committee (MBCC) has deserted the Congress to support independent candidate Norbert Marboh.
As political parties race towards the Assembly bye-polls on October 30, the Congress in Mawryngkneng is heading towards what looks like an inevitable split.
Unhappy with the decision of the Congress to field Highlander Kharmalki from the seat, a section of the Mawryngkneng Block Congress Committee (MBCC) has deserted the Congress to support independent candidate Norbert Marboh.
It is learnt that the party workers from the units, circles, and the MBCC are unhappy with Kharmalki, who was initially with the People's Democratic Front, but joined Congress recently, while Marboh has been with the Congress for 20 years.
The Congress workers of Mawryngkneng claim that Kharmalki does not want to cooperate with them.
MBCC General Secretary Ronald Kharumnuid said, “The supporters are leaving as Marboh did not get a ticket. The leaders of the party had asked Marboh to apply for the ticket, but the party did not grant him one.” Kharumnuid went on to say that there is no unity in Mawryngkneng Congress.
Speaking at a programme attended by Congress members, Marboh said that he has been with the Congress for 20 years, while the ticket was issued to someone who was from outside the Congress (referring to Kharmalki).
“We will stand together and repeat the 2013 victory when the late David Nongrum won the election as an independent candidate”, he said.
Mawryngkneng is seen as a Congress stronghold. Nongrum was the son of Congress veteran leader Charles Pyngrope. In the last general election in 2018, Kharmalki contested from the People’s Democratic Front and stood second.
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