Shillong, Feb 9: Congress chief Vincent H Pala on Thursday said the candidate of the party from Umroi, Stanlywiss Rymbai, is yet to be convicted.

“Until he (Rymbai) is convicted, we cannot judge him. We cannot say that he has committed the land grabbing and a crime until the law decides. We should not judge a man just because somebody filed an FIR and all,” he said.

With regards to the party candidate from Songsak, Champion Sangma, who is a former GNLA leader, he said, “I had discussed it with his lawyer and with him also. Until he is convicted, we have no right to deny if he wants to contest.”

There are around 34-35 cases pending against Champion, but has got bail in almost all of them.

Pala said that the party will not give tickets if candidates have been convicted by the court. “Once the court gives a verdict then only we can take a decision. Only if they are convicted then we don’t give. We have not given tickets to any convicted candidates,” he said.