SHILLONG: Former bureaucrat HM Shangpliang started a new innings in his career when he formally joined the Congress on Thursday.
Shangpliang, who was holding important positions like Secretary General of the Administration Department and Director of the National Health Mission, took voluntary retirement to contest the 2018 Assembly elections from Mawsynram.
Speaking to media persons after joining the Congress, Shangpliang said he decided to take the plunge into politics as there is greater scope to help and work for the people.
On joining the national party, he pointed out that it is the oldest entity and it brought political stability and law and order in Meghalaya.
Criticising suspended Congress leader PN Syiem for neglecting his constituency, Shangpliang said people in Mawsynram wanted development because it is the “poorest and most neglected part in the whole state”.
“I have no agenda other than ensuring good roads, good education and good healthcare in the constituency. People are disgusted (with Syiem) and even the MLA scheme has not reached properly,” he told reporters.
More than 7,500 primary members have already registered themselves with the Congress in Mawsynram and over 100 units have been formed in the area, informed Shangpliang who sounded confident of the party’s smooth sailing on the choppy poll waters. On allegations that he misused his official position and distributed schemes in Mawsynram, Shangpliang said the government examined all the charges and it felt that there was nothing to substantiate the allegations.
