Tura by-poll: Cong targets BJP

NPP stresses on commitment to development of Garo Hills

TURA: The election campaign has begun to pick up for both the Congress and the NPP with the former focusing its attack on NPP ally BJP which is currently governing the country while its opponent Conrad K Sangma has been addressing rallies highlighting the need to raise the voice of Garo Hills in parliament.
Congress candidate Dikkanchi D Shira was in Tura town extensively visiting different localities and meeting voters to seek their support.
In most of her meetings she laid emphasis on different developmental programmes of the State government with particular reference to improvement in road connectivity in Garo Hills.
She visited Babupara, Hawakhana, Fancy Valley, Dobasipara, Brahmanpara, Risipara localities of Tura which has a sizeable vote share in the two assembly segments of Tura which forms a part of the Lok Sabha seat.
Interestingly, the Congress candidate has trained her guns on the Narendra Modi government at the centre accusing it of failing to safeguard minorities.
Beginning Monday, Dikkanchi is launching her full-fledged campaign with a series of rallies in Dadenggre constituency which is currently represented in the State Assembly by Conrad’s elder brother James.
In the meantime, NPP candidate Conrad was in his home turf of Selsella where he had previously been elected for a term in the State Assembly in 2008. During his meetings he reached out to the voters on his commitment for the people of Garo Hills.
He sought the people’s mandate that if elected he would fulfill the task left behind by his late father P.A. Sangma.
“The voice of Garo Hills needs to be heard in Parliament and if elected I believe I can be the people’s voice,” said Conrad while speaking to media persons on the sidelines of one of his rallies on Sunday.
He addressed several rallies in different parts of Phulbari and Rajabala constituencies on a hot blistering Sunday afternoon.
Interestingly, the NPP candidate is taking the poll battle to the Congress stronghold of Rangsakona constituency where he is scheduled to address as many as seven rallies including in Mellim and Garobadha areas.