candidate Vincent Pala to the extent that the Chief Minister personally went right up to the doorsteps of the High Command in New Delhi to openly plead and canvass against Vincent Pala getting a ticket.

"Tennydard has raised the question – ‘Can a fraud person be allowed to occupy and rule the State occupying the highest prestigeous post of the State, i.e, the Chief Minister of Meghalaya, wrongfully and fraudulently obtained bogus Scheduled Tribe certificate as a Garo in stark violation of the established norms/ rules’?"

This had created doldrums in the party rank and file and had sapped the enthusiasm of party workers and even senior leaders of the State Congress Party. The All India Congress Committee (AICC) had to signal warnings for anti – party activities of which the Chief Minister himself could not steer clear. In fact, from the horse’s mouth of the party, it was reported that Vincent Pala would lose the elections even as this did not come true.

“My mode of living, conduct and way of life, including those of my brother and sister and their children, have always been as per Garo way of life, which includes eatig habits such as Nakham and Khappa and those meat eaten by the Garos."-Dr. Mukul Sangma

The victory reception given to Vincent Pala was also not a very clean hearted expression of joy as hard feelings still seemed to linger even though Vincent Pala said that now there should be no more  misgivings and also that the infighting between the party members is now a part of history. Yet, in the reception ceremony itself, an outspoken Congress legislator Comingone Ymbon talked about the back stabbing tactics and infighting within the party on the issue of the candidature of Vincent Pala. There were no all – out efforts made to support Vincent Pala as many of the party leaders and legislators were not even seen during his campaigning. The Chief Minister Dr. Mukul Sangma himself did not attend a single meeting held to support Vincent Pala as he excused himself on the grounds that he was busy in the Tura constituency. The AICC had however taken serious exception of the affairs of the State party which can lead to disruption even in the State administration and that the Chief Minister as head of the State owes responsibility, also of his harping that the Congress would win both the Shillong and Tura seats.

“Just because we eat chow, we do not automatically become Chinese.”- Tennydard M Marak

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