Shillong, Sep 25: KHADC Nongskhen MDC Grace Mary Kharpuri on Wednesday quit the Congress to contest the upcoming bye-election to the Shella Assembly seat, as an independent candidate.

This came a day after the Congress has decided to recommend the name of Batyngshain Laitmon Ryngnga as the candidate of the party.

“I have decided to resign from the Congress to pave way for me to contest the Shella by poll as an independent candidate,” Kharpuri said.

The three-time MDC said that the decision of the Congress to field Ryngnga only shows that the party is not interested in winning the Shella seat.

“I have a good chance to win as I have won the MDC election for three consecutive times and I have a vote bank in my constituency which most of the areas falls under Shella Assembly constituency,” she said.

Kharpuri is all set to contest against the UDP candidate Balajied Kupar Synrem, who is seeking to retain seat, which his father late Dr Donkupar Roy has represented for more than 31 years.