Tura by-poll: Campaigning gains momentum
Dikkanchi ridicules NPP-BJP understanding
TURA: The opposition Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and the ruling Congress have started aggressive campaigning in the run-up to the Tura Lok Sabha by-election slated for May 16. Both the candidates Conrad K Sangma of NPP and Dikkanchi D Shira (Congress) on Monday addressed a series of election rallies where they attacked their opponents on several issues. Interestingly, Monday was the last day for withdrawal of nominations. Conrad launched a scathing attack on the Mukul Sangma government in the state accusing it of misusing fund given by the Central government resulting in New Delhi withholding the next installment and demanding utilization certificates which the state has allegedly been unable to provide. “Congress claims the Narendra Modi government is not releasing funds to opposition rules states. But the truth is that the Mukul Sangma government has misused Rs 300 crore of Central money allotted by Modi government for the MGNREGA works. The state government is unable to provide the utilization certificate for the use of the money. This is the reason why the next installment of fund has been withheld,” revealed the NPP candidate. The younger son of Late P A Sangma held a series of public meetings in the Rangsakona, Mellim and Betasing areas of South West Garo Hills district on Monday. He also attacked the Mukul government for denying the Garo Hills district Council its share of funds from the state government, which has resulted in hundreds of employees and their families being without salaries for many months. On the other hand, Congress candidate Dikkanchi D Shira, while addressing an election rally at Dadenggre, a stronghold of the NPP, attacked both NPP and BJP. Dadenggre is represented in the state assembly by Conrad’s elder brother James K Sangma. “The NPP and the BJP have an agreement for five years in which they would leave Tura for the NPP. But the NPP would be working on the BJP agenda. The BJP cannot protect minorities like Christians and Muslims,” alleged Dikkanchi D Shira. She added that it was only the Congress which stood for minorities. She also rejected opposition allegation that she is a novice in politics. “I have been part of a political family since I was a child because my late father Ira Marak was an MLA for ten long years representing Dalamgre seat. After my marriage my husband joined politics,” pointed out Dikkanchi whose husband is currently the chief minister of the state. “People claim Conrad is dynamic and I am weak. If it was so then why would people of Mahendraganj elected me as their MLA. He (Conrad) was defeated twice from Selsella,” lashed out the Congress candidate. She also highlighted the achievements of the state government and said that the improved road conditions including the Tura-Williamnagar-Nongstoin-Shillong road was due to the state government. GHSMC to support neither Cong nor NPP: The Garo Hills State Movement Committee (GHSMC) has decided not to support either of the two national political parties in the upcoming by-election to the Tura parliamentary constituency. In a statement issued here on Monday the Committee said that it decided not to support the national parties as they do not have a vision for a separate Garoland State.