SHILLONG: National People’s Party (NPP) members grabbed the opportunity at Pynursla, the constituency currently represented by disgruntled Congress legislator, Prestone Tynsong, to launch an attack against the Congress-led state government and its leaders.
The NPP national president and Tura MP said that Chief Minister Mukul Sangma was facing one of the biggest political challenges that he has ever faced.
“Dr. Mukul is so scared that he is contesting in two constituencies and I can assure you that he will lose in both,” he said.
Stating that Congress is not being able to run their party properly, Conrad ridiculed the party for not having been able to put up candidates in some constituencies.
Sharing experience of his visit to Amlarem in which he asked the people of Amlarem constituency as to how many candidates are contesting in the constituency, Sangma said “They (the people) said, we have Stephan Mukhim, Lakmen Rymbui from UDP, RL Tariang from BJP.”
And when I ask about ‘Congress?’ They said, “Nobody wants to take Congress ticket.”
Meanwhile, NPP legislator, James Sangma stated that the Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) acted in a “dictatorial manner” by dissolving the Pynursla Block Congress Committee.
Asserting that development in the state is only concentrated in Ampati and pointed that the Agricultural University that was sanctioned for Ri-Bhoi was diverted to CM’s constituency, Ampati.
“Dr. Mukul Sangma is not the Chief Minister of Meghalaya but he is the Chief Minister only of Ampati,” he said.
On the other hand, Deputy Chief Minister of Manipur, Yumnam Joy Kumar Singh said that Mukul “is acting more like a dictator than a leader.”
“I am told that he is currently holding 19 portfolios. With that what is left for the others?” he asked.
Chief Minister Mukul Sangma is currently holding the departments of Agriculture, Horticulture, Commerce and Industries, Mining and Geology, Tourism, Personnel, Finance and other portfolios not allotted to other ministers.
The axed Cabinet Minister, Prestone Tynsong, held the departments of Border Areas development and District Council Affairs department which is currently not held by any minister.
Another dropped minister, Sniawbhalang Dhar was in charge of department of Legal Metrology which is also currently not held by any minister.