Nongstoin MLA remembers Hoping Stone contribution

NONGSTOIN: The new NPP MLA of Nongstoin, Macmillan Byrsat, said on Sunday he was honoured to be elected as the new legislator from the constituency and thanked voters for supporting him.
“After late Hoping Stone Lyngdoh, who was the Lyngdoh of Hima Mawiang and former MLA of Nongstoin, the constituency got another representative in the place of this great man,” said Byrsat while addressing a gathering at Nondein.
It is an achievement of sorts for NPP to win the seat as none had ever won against the HSPDP. The victory came in the face of accusations that NPP had supported the idea of Garoland.
Byrsat, who secured the seat with 9,284 votes, is being termed as a hero in spite of the party’s short existence. He defeated Congress’s Gabriel Wahlang by a margin of 60.
On the day of the election results, the people rejoiced and the night was accompanied by fireworks. Several voters whom The Shillong Times spoke to said the NPP candidate could be the voice of the people whose plight had been ignored so far.
One of the residents said the postal ballot usually belonged to HSPDP in the past but this time they became the reason for NPP’s victory.
“The postal ballots went to the victorious candidate as many government employees were hurt by the immature speech of HSPDP’s Dios Jyndiang,” he added.
Byrsat said he would focus on land and other policies, which he had mentioned in his election campaign speech.
“People, irrespective of party, are free to meet me because I am the representative of the constituency and not just the party,” he said.
“The rights of the people over land would be guaranteed and protected by law. Law will protect the religious minorities in Meghalaya and help the helpless youth, farmers and others,” he added.