By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: In a unique turn of events, Nongshken MDC Grace Mary Kharpuri kicked off her husband Don Massar’s election campaign at Pynursla on Tuesday as the sitting Independent legislator from Nongshken decided to take the back seat and allow his wife to take the centre stage during the public meeting.
Massar would lock his horns against Forest and Environment Minister and Congress candidate Prestone Tynsong and UDP candidate Banalari Khongwar in a triangular contest for the Pynursla seat.
Kharpuri herself is contesting from Shella constituency against former Chief Minister and sitting legislator Donkupar Roy (UDP), Jropsing Nongkhlaw (Congress) and a host of Independent candidates.
Interestingly, Massar and Kharpuri are one of the two husband-wife pairs who are contesting the 2013 Assembly election.
The second pair is that of Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma and his wife Dikkanchi D Shira who are contesting the election from Ampati and Mahendraganj respectively.
Addressing the gathering, Kharpuri urged the voters not to be persuaded by false promises of other candidates.
“There are many who would offer you money at the last minute just to buy your votes. It depends on you whether you would allow such people to buy your future,” she exhorted.
She was all praise for her husband for being the ‘voice of the poor and downtrodden’.
“The main purpose behind my husband’s decision to contest the election is to serve the people. He (Massar) does not have any other hidden agenda like other political aspirants,” Kharpuri added.
Meanwhile, Massar urged the voters of the constituency to continue their support to him.
“There are many people who are spreading rumours that I am losing all my supporters especially in areas which are considered to be my stronghold. My intention to call this meeting is to silence all my opponents who are spreading such false rumours,” the Nongshken legislator said.
He said that his victory in the coming election would be the victory of the poor people of the constituency who have always reposed their faith in him.
The public meeting was attended by a large number of Massar’s supporters.