Congress, which had won four seats in 2019, contested only 19 this as several senior functionaries defied AICC’s decision to nominate them.Kumar Waii, who was fielded in Bameng constituency of East Kameng district, was the lone Congress victor among those in the poll contest.
Congress had drawn up a list of 35 candidates for this election, 10 of whom didn’t file their nominations. Of the remaining ones, five withdrew their candidature. Another candidate, Sompha Wangsa in Kanubari, “surrendered” the seat after scrutiny of nomination papers and joined BJP.
Congress insiders said several senior party members had already been expelled in a purge targeting those allegedly colluding with the BJP, including nine from the candidates’ shortlist who didn’t contest the polls.
A PCC disciplinary committee expelled them from the party for six years, sources said.“These candidates didn’t even inform the party that they were not going to contest the polls. They fought for Congress tickets till the last moment, only to back out,” a Congress functionary said.
PCC chief Nabam Tuki, a former CM, blamed “money power” for what he said was an “astonishing exodus from the battlefield”. “Turncoats will continue to be expelled per the recommendations of the party’s disciplinary committee,” he said. “We are undoubtedly disappointed but not demoralised.”