ST: In your last interview to The Shillong Times you seem to then little bit reluctant to contest the Tura by-polls which was a foregone conclusion. You had said that becoming the nascent President of NPP in itself is a huge responsibility and the party workers have lot of expectations you. What changed between then and now which made you to join the electoral fray?
Conrad: At that point of time, the decision was left to the party. Later, it was based on party decision as well as the decision of the family that I was chosen to contest.
ST: In your statements during the campaign you still hoped the seat should have been left uncontested as a tribute to your legendary father. That has not happened even though Chief Minister, Mukul Sangma, his wife Dikkanchi and Minister brother, Zenith, remained with your family all through the funeral process. Now Dikkanchi is contesting herself from Congress even though she is an M.L.A. Your comments?
Conrad: It was just a request to all the political parties. Most parties respected the request, but Congress took a different decision at its own level. I have nothing to say about the decision of the Congress.
ST: During your campaign you said that apart from the sympathy wave for your father, serious law and order situation in the Garo Hills and lack of development are the main issues during the polls. Will you please elaborate?
Conrad: We are concerned over the law and order situation in Garo Hills. Socio- economic reasons have led to the problem. Moreover, lot of schemes are not reaching the people. Primarily, the by-election is a tribute to my father.
ST: Congress claims that there is stability in the state with Mukul Sangma completing the remaining part of his first term as Chief Minister and even during the second term so far which is a sort of history. Then NCP led Government where you were Finance Minister did not last even for a year. Your comments?
Conrad: The Congress has 30 members now. But we had lesser numbers when we formed government. Having said that I don’t think all the 30 MLAs are in unison. There are a lot of rumblings and dissatisfaction within the Congress especially against the Chief Minister. In this context, the so called stability is under question.
ST: In this scenario even if you get elected and your party forms next Government in the state in 2018 will that Government last with Mukul on the other side of the bench?
Conrad: It is too fast to give any opinion. Let the time come then we will see.
ST: Congress working president Deborah Marak said that you have been rejected (read defeated) by people in two Assembly elections in recent past. How can you be elected in a Lok Sabha polls with that Assembly segment constituting a major chunk of votes?
Conrad: Basically, the Assembly election is different from an election to Lok Sabha as there are different factors which determine both. Winning and losing is part of life. I have learned positively from the past setbacks.
ST: Your nomination for GHADC Executive Member is still pending with the Governor with a parallel name recommended by the Government. It was declared that you will become the CEM of the council. Now if you win the Tura Lok Sabha seat will you still peruse that position?
Conrad: This issue will have to be discussed by the coalition led by Garo Hills Progressive Alliance (GHPA). It is up to the MDCs to decide on the matter.
ST: From your election campaign it seems you are vastly depending on your father’s legacy. Congress party is saying that the legacy did not work in case of Chokpot the latest by-election for the Assembly seat. Your comments?
Conrad: One should remember that there are two factors. One is the legacy of my father. Other part is how things will unfold in the future and who will lead the people of Garo Hills on the right path. The situation was different in Chokpot by-election and I do not want to make any comments on that election.
ST: Will the direct contest between you and Congress candidate help your prospects?
Conrad: I am confident that people will remember my father during the election, and they will also remember his contributions.
ST: Do you think Agatha could have been a better choice since she is also a woman and had won the seat earlier?
Conrad: As far as Agatha is concerned, the party had a detailed discussion on the matter and if she had contested, she too would have got a good chance to win. But the party felt that since I am the President of NPP, I would be able to play a bigger role at the national level, and hence the party chose me to contest the by election.
ST: Why Agatha did not contest this time?
Conrad: In fact it was Agatha who proposed my name that I should be the candidate.
ST: Central BJP leaders have made it clear that NPP is a partner with the BJP led NDA. Will it help or harm in a Christian dominated Lok Sabha constituency?
Conrad: NPP and BJP decided to support me as a tribute to my father. Both NPP and BJP are two different parties. Yes my father was supporting the NDA. We will continue to support NDA.
There is no question of communal element in this. Development is the only agenda. Once elected, we will be sitting in the ruling at the Centre. Even if Congress candidate wins, she has to sit in the Opposition.
The whole focus of NDA is on development. Congress is making up a communal point. This only resulted in the recent FIR filed against the Congress for its adverse remarks.
ST: What will be your priority task if you are elected?
Conrad: Priority will be to carry forward the unfinished tasks left by father. Many initiatives were taken up in the past. It is very important that the Central schemes are implemented well and the voice of the people is heard. I am committed to work for the welfare of all sections of people.
ST: What about the allegations from the Congress against you that you were instrumental in withholding the wages under MGNREGS.
Conrad: The money was meant for the works carried out for the years 2013 and 14. Why it took so long for the state government to disburse the amount? It appears that the government woke up only when the by election came as it did not complete the formalities in time. (Interviewed by CK Nayak)