Staff Reporter
SHILLONG:
Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) state chief Vincent Pala has said that the party will not judge alleged tainted candidates until and unless they are convicted by the court.
He was replying to a query on candidates allegedly involved in scams.
Referring to Congress candidate Stanlywiss Rymbai from Umroi, Pala said, “He has not been convicted. Until and unless the man is convicted, we cannot judge him. And we found that he has not been convicted. So he has every right to contest.”
He said that the party also discussed with the lawyers before giving a ticket to candidates who have a criminal record.
As for another candidate Champion Sangma, a former militant leader, Pala said that Sangma has the right to contest as he has not yet been convicted.
He said, “I think we do not have the right to deny if he wants to contest. Like Champion Sangma, Banteidor was also in the HNLC as was Julius Dorphang.”
Sangma has reportedly told Pala that he has around 36 cases and got bail except in two cases.
Pala went on to say that the party will not allot tickets to convicted candidates.
Way back in 2018, Congress won 21 seats but could not form the government. Asked if the scenario will be repeated, he said, “Politics is dynamic, what happened before may not happen now.”