KHADC: Candidates battle it out in common platform in Nongstoin
NONGSTOIN: Campaigning for the upcoming KHADC election finally caught pace here with all candidates in fray coming together on a common platform on Tuesday.
Leaders from all the contesting parties-Congress, UDP, HSPDP-besides independent candidates wooed voters even as they tore into each other’s policies and “failures”.
Backing their candidate Roland Mawsor, UDP stalwarts Paul Lyngdoh and Bindo M Lanong lambasted the Dr Mukul Sangma-led state government for its ineffectiveness.
In his address Paul Lyngdoh specifically pointed out the failure of the government in tackling law and order problems in the state.
“Mukul godfather of all militant outfits”
“How can Mukul Sangma have a peace talk with the militants when he himself is the godfather to all the outfits in the state,” Paul alleged.
Paul pointed out that the delay in the GHADC’s election was a ploy of Dr Sangma. He alleged that the Chief Minister was aiming to increase the seats in the GHADC to nominate five ANVC cadres as MDCs.
He added, “One of the dailies pointed that Mukul’s government failed miserably in Meghalaya where the justice machinery is not functioning the way it should. Even when one of its (Congress’) prominent leaders Ampareen Lyngdoh is being accused of irregularities in the recruitment of teachers no punishment has been meted out to her. The Chief Minister of Haryana spent ten years in prison for the same offence,” Paul said.
The UDP leader said that while the MUA government was still mulling the construction of the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly building which was burnt down well over a decade ago it took only five years to complete the bungalow of the Chief Minister which was worth well over Rs 5 crore.
Citing the recent controversy surrounding the JHADC CEM, Paul said that the Chief Minister was protecting the CEM as only the beneficiaries were summoned in the case so far.
He urged the people of Nongstoin not to vote for Congress as its government was only interested in beautifying the urban areas and completely neglected the rural parts of the State.
HSPDP’s L G Nongsiej reiterated that the party stood for the rights of the indigenous people.
The HSPDP manifesto remained unchanged for the KHADC polls.
Nongsiej pointed out that every single school, village and church in Nongstoin had benefited from the MDC schemes.
Speaking on the ILP issue, Nongsiej said that he believed in action and not “mere words”. He added that he resigned as an executive member of the KHADC since it had representatives from the Congress.
Meanwhile, Congress candidate Dr Adviser Pariong charged the regional parties of speaking of the upliftment of the indigenous people only during the elections.
He added that post polls the regional parties are not heard of till the next electoral battle.
“Congress party was responsible for bringing the Sixth Schedule to Meghalaya as a result of which the KHADC came into being. Development brought by the Congress government could be seen not only in Meghalaya but across the country,” he said while citing the example of Mawkyrwat which had a Congress legislator.
“Mawkyrwat has an artificial turf for sportspersons although South West Khasi
(Contd in P-4)
Campaigning hits…
(Contd from P-3) Hills as a district is just a year old,” he pointed out.
“If the mandate of the people goes in my favour, I would not only be a mere MDC but would serve as a key to the door of development in Nongstoin,” Pariong assured. He also urged the people to vote for the Congress all around the state.
Independent candidate Tlidingstone Wanniang said he shifted allegiance from one party to another in search for the right party which was oriented for the welfare of the people.
“Failing in my endeavour, I decided to contest as an independent candidate,” he said adding that Nongstoin had an HSPDP MLA and an HSPDP MDC, yet development was not to be seen in the area.