Shillong, Dec 11: Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) president Vincent H Pala is banking on ‘young blood’ to turn the fortunes of Congress in Meghalaya Assembly elections 2023, which has been reduced to just 5 MLAs after the defection of 12 MLAs recently to All India Trinamool Congress (AITC).

“Lots of young bloods from Garo Hills have joined us. We have doctors, engineers and lawyers joining the party on their own merit, it is no longer a single family affair. Therefore, I have every reason to believe that we will perform well in 2023,” he told journalists.

He also informed that the party is preparing to have a joining ceremony in a big way in Garo Hills.

“I feel we should do very well from Garo Hills also and it is not like what others are predicting,” Pala said.

His statement also came a day after Congress MDCs in Garo Hills quit the party and joined the Mukul Sangma-led All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) in the state.

When asked, Pala however claimed that enough precautions have been taken by the party while anticipating such activities will continue in the state.

“Due to this, out of 12 blocks which MLAs have left the party, not a single block has taken a resolution to leave the party enmasse along with the office bearers,” he said.

Pala further claimed that more and more youths are joining the Congress.

“Today more than 10,000 of the youth have already enrolled and another 20,000 have enrolled but some problem with the payment of Rs 5 per enrolment. Therefore, maybe 100 have left us but around 30,000-40,000 have joined us,” he stated.

Meanwhile, the Congress chief also claimed that there are government servants who are ready to take voluntary pension to contest from the party in 2023.