Tura, Jan 17: The new state Congress chief Vincent Pala has arrived in the Garo Hills region to galvanize party workers following the exit of Dr. Mukul Sangma and 11 other MLAs to the Trinamool (AITC) and assured party loyalists that the congress would return to power after next year’s assembly elections because ensuring development has always been the criteria of the party.

This is the first visit of the MPCC chief following the party’s defeat at the Rajabala elections in October and the December defection of all 8 sitting Congress legislators from Garo Hills to Trinamool Congress led by Dr. Mukul Sangma and Charles Pyngrope.

“Leader will come and go, but the party will remain. Earlier, many of our adversaries thought we have dropped to zero with the exit of Mukul Sangma and others, but after coming here to Garo Hills I have seen that while some have left, others have come in which is very encouraging,” said Pala while addressing party workers at three separate meetings in North Garo Hills district on Monday- Mendipathar, Resubelpara and Bajengdoba.Pala was accompanied by state working president Deborah C Marak, former Tura MLA Billykid A Sangma, former Bajengdoba MLA Brigady Marak and others.The state congress chief has undertaken a three day tour of the crucial three districts of North, East and South Garo Hills- bastions of the ruling NPP in the state.

He said that the two reasons Congress has remained strong in the face of recent defections and setbacks is because the party is well connected at the grassroot level and for its strong ideology of secularism.

“Everyone knows Congress is the most secular party in the country. Regional parties and others fail to bring in development and employment which is something Congress has always been able to turn around,” claimed Pala.

Terming the loyalty of party workers as immensely strong, the state party chief pointed out that out of 24 blocks of the congress in Garo Hills, Dr. Mukul Sangma could win over only in six of them.

Block members to have sole discretion in Candidate selection

Vincent Pala has told Block Congress workers that only the enrolled members in the Congress blocks will decide the best candidate to represent the party in the upcoming assembly elections contest.

“Unlike the past, no one can bring candidates from other constituencies or parties for the official candidature of the party. The selection will be done only by the block members,” assured Pala.

Cong to fight polls on ground and through digital

Vincent Pala has told party workers that the upcoming 2023 assembly elections will be a multi-pronged battle involving contests on the ground as well as the digital world.

“This election will be fought not just on the ground but as well as on social media and print. We are going digital in a big way with live streaming, social media alerts and the use of whatsapp,” a confident Congress state president said as he encouraged party workers to be prepared for the fight.