NCP kick-starts 2013 Assembly poll campaign
By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: “We are coming to power in 2013 and NCP will form a stable government in the State which would last five years,” senior NCP leader and Tura legislator Purno A Sangma declared on Saturday, in what was apparently a kick-start to the party’s campaign for the 2013 Assembly polls in Meghalaya.
The party also announced the names of fourteen candidates who would be contesting the State elections.
Sangma also informed that the NCP has reposed its faith in all its legislators who had contested and won the 2008 Assembly polls and offered tickets to them.
Only two new faces — Sensing Dkhar from Nongstoin and Renginton Lyngdoh from Mawkyrwat — have been issued party tickets.
The twelve sitting MLAs are ECB Bamon, Omillo Sangma, TD Shira, John Manner Marak, Nihim D Shira, Desang Sangma, Marcuise N Marak, Satto Marak, Masonsing Sangma, James Sangma, Conrad Sangma and Philipole Marak.
There were two notable exclusions — Adolf Lu Hitler Marak, who has been expelled from the party, and Laban legislator Sanbor Shullai, who has not applied for the party ticket as yet.
Conrad Sangma however chose to downplay Shullai’s exclusion from the list, saying that he has been indisposed for the past week and is expected to apply for the ticket soon.
The first list also does not include the name of party stalwart Purno Sangma.
When asked, he stated that he will apply for the ticket last. He also informed that the second list of candidates would be announced before Tuesday.
Earlier, while addressing the gathering during the inauguration of the NCP headquarters in the city, Purno said that political instability has marked the five years of Congress governance in the State which would not be the case if the NCP comes to power in 2013.
According to Sangma, the State has suffered tremendously over the years due to political instability and the inherent division in the Congress which has many factions respectively led by Lapang, Mukul and Prestone.
Sangma also said that people in the State have realized the need for a stable government to usher in development and prosperity in the State.
On the party agenda for next year’s polls, the former Lok Sabha Speaker mentioned that corruption in the State would be a major issue.