GNC boost for Conrad’s candidature
TURA: Hoping to turn the tide against the NPP candidate Conrad K Sangma, Congress on Tuesday turned to the history books to try and tame its rival in the campaign arena.
In an election rally at remote Rongjeng constituency of East Garo Hills, the state minister Deborah C Marak made an attempt to reach out to voters by invoking the legacy of Meghalaya’s first chief minister Captain Williamson A Sangma, the first Garo leader who introduced the Congress party to the people of the Hill State Movement resulting in the creation of Meghalaya.
She was accompanying Congress candidate Dikkanchi D Shira to the eastern bastion of the NPP where Late P A Sangma went undefeated in every successive parliamentary election as voters from the tribal dominated region voted overwhelmingly for the famous Garo politician.
Rongjeng assembly segment had one of the highest number of votes in favour of P A Sangma in the last Lok Sabha election of 2014.
“Congress has contributed immensely for our state of Meghalaya which began with Captain Williamson A Sangma who fought for tribal rights leading to creation of district councils and ultimately a separate state for all of us. Today, development of Garo Hills has been due to the immense contributions of Congress leaders. Even Late P A Sangma attained fame during his tenure in the Congress,” claimed Deborah Marak.
Interestingly, while Deborah dwelled on Captain’s legacy, Congress candidate Dikkanchi D Shira stuck to the Congress guns of BJP bashing.
Accusing the BJP of tearing the social fabric of the nation Dikkanchi claimed that it was a party that failed to protect minorities like Christians and Muslims.
Conrad holds rally in Chokpot
While Congress was at the NPP stronghold of Rongjeng and Songsak for electioneering on Tuesday, the NPP’s Conrad Sangma was testing the waters of Chokpot in South Garo Hills where a large group of supporters gave P A Sangma’s son a rousing welcome on his arrival there.
Surprisingly, Chokpot witnessed a by-election last year, necessitated by the sudden demise of sitting GNC legislator Clifford Marak, in which the Congress candidate Bluebell Sangma triumphed defeating both the GNC and the NPP candidates.
At Chokpot Conrad spoke of the help given by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council by giving a financial package of Rs. 200 crores to tide over the financial crisis plaguing the autonomous body. “Congress is throwing one charge after another against NPP and BJP. But it was after our Late leader P A Sangma met Prime Minister Modi that a financial package was sanctioned. Congress didn’t release the funds. It was the central government. Who is against whom it is there for everyone to see,” said the young NPP leader and its party candidate.
GNC extends support to Conrad
Meanwhile, the Garo National Council (GNC) has decided to extend support to NPP candidate, Conrad K Sangma. Informing this, the acting general secretary of the party, Henyshing A Sangma informed that the decision to this effect was taken during its CEC meeting held on April 28 in Tura.