TURA: The two bigwigs in this election — Chief Minister Mukul Sangma and Tura MP Conrad Sangma — who played the key roles during the campaign of the respective parties hoped for the best outcome of the polling on Tuesday.
Mukul, who is contesting from Ampati in South West Garo Hills and Songsak in East Garo Hills, was the face of the Congress in the campaign in both Garo Hills and Khasi Hills.
Conrad has been the rallying point of the National People’s Party (NPP) in this election going on a whirlwind tour for his party candidates.
“We have done whatever we could to put our vision for the state in front of the people,” said Conrad after casting his vote at Boldoka Lower Primary School in Selsella in West Garo Hills.
The NPP president said the party has given their best to enlighten the people of issues and challenges and a road map for Meghalaya. “We are confident that people will vote for change and will give us the mandate. I have faith in the wisdom of our people and I am sure that they will make a conscious choice for the state of Meghalaya,” he added.
Conrad left for New Delhi on Tuesday to meet his six-year-old daughter Amara, who studies in Delhi, while his wife Mehtab Chandee is in Tura. In December last, Conrad was blessed with his second daughter.
The chief minister, who voted at Chengkompara Lower Primary School in Ampati along with wife Dikkanchi D Shira and two daughters, said the election has been challenging and the Congress has given its best. “I have full faith and confidence in the people of my state and I am expecting a comfortable majority.”
Asked if the Congress was willing to forge an alliance in case it does not get an absolute majority, he said, “There are claims and counter claims but we have good friends and yes, we will make it.”
He is banking on the stability card which he says the Congress has given post the 2013 election even as he denounced the BJP’s surge in Meghalaya. “People from Meghalaya are different. Though BJP has tried to make inroads into the state but our people are vigilant and alert and I am counting on our people.”
Lauding the development initiatives of the Congress in Meghalaya, Mukul said, “The central government leadership of the BJP is bankrupt on issues so it has alleged lack of development in the state. It is making a mockery of itself.”
He countered Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Rajnath Singh for not doing their homework and telling “blatant lies”. “They should do their homework properly. Where do you find such good roads in hilly terrains?” he asked.
The deplorable condition of roads in the plains belt area of West Garo Hills, South Garo Hills and other parts of the state had become a major political weapon for the BJP and the opposition to target the Congress.
On law and order, Mukul passed the buck on the Prime Minister and the Home Minister and termed them “incompetent” for talking about issues to cheat the people by shying away from their own responsibility.
“It is the job of the central government to main the porous border. The border security forces are not equipped with the wherewithal that is the reason for cross border crimes, insurgency and smuggling of sophisticated weapons and they blame me for the law order situation of the state,” he added.
Asked, what Rahul Gandhi expects from the election from him, Mukul said, “He has been instrumental in energising and infusing positivity in the electorate. His expectation is that we keep the Congress flag flying in Meghalaya.”
Meanwhile, NPP candidate for prestigious South Tura constituency and former Union minister Agatha K. Sangma voted at Walbakgre Lower Primary School while NPP candidate for North Tura constituency and former Rajya Sabha MP Thomas K. Sangma voted at Government Boy’s Higher Secondary School, Tura.
