SHILLONG: Sitting Congress MP Vincent H Pala on Monday expressed confidence of retaining the prestigious Shillong Lok Sabha seat for the third consecutive time."People will vote for me not as Pala, the individual. They have trust in me and Congress," the two-time MP, who faces anti-incumbency, said at a media conference at the Shillong Press Club. He added that the common candidate of the ruling Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA), Jemino Mawthoh of the United Democratic Party (UDP), posed no challenge to him."I have not been involved in any sort of corruption or scandal," Pala said, adding, "I have gone to villages and reached out to people."The MP further said he was transparent with his MP schemes. "Everybody can access my MP schemes on the internet," the former government engineer, who is also a business magnate, added. Pala owns some coal mines."My constituency is one of the best in the country," claimed Vincent. He said people of different political affiliations have come forward in his support and have elected him to the Lok Sabha twice so far.The MP also stressed on the need for maintaining cordial relations between Meghalaya and Assam and resolve the boundary disputes between the two neighbouring states amicably.Stating that he had flagged off several issues of importance, including that of beef consumption and harassment of students of the northeast in the national capital, Pala said the Centre had taken action based on his recommendations.He said former chief minister Mukul Sangma, who is the Congress candidate for the Tura Lok Sabha seat, was the strongest and most acceptable leader of the party in the Garo Hills region of the state."We, as a party, cannot do anything in the Garo Hills without Mukul Sangma. We need him for the party's survival in the Garo Hills," the heavyweight Congress leader said.Pala, who has been given a ticket by the AICC for contesting the parliamentary polls for the third time, said he would file his nomination papers on March 22 .

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