TURA: Campaigning for the February 27th elections to Williamnagar constituency has come to a peaceful end on Wednesday afternoon with all major parties and its candidates holding last minute rallies to woo voters from the urban region which has the highest consolidated vote share.
While Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma held a large rally at Rongrenggre field to drum up support for the NPP candidate Marcuise Marak, the Congress also organized similar meetings at different points of the town.
Former chief minister Mukul Sangma together with Mendipathar legislator Marthon Sangma, Salmanpara MLA Winnerson Sangma and Rangsakona MLA Zenith Sangma led the Congress charge to mobilize support for Deborah Marak.
For the NPP, besides the chief minister, home minister James K Sangma, GHADC CEM Dipul Marak, Siju Rongara legislator Rakkam A Sangma, Mawshunrut MLA J Myrthon added teeth to the party campaign.
The NCP campaign was led by party president Saleng Sangma.
Concluding the election campaign for the NPP, chief minister Conrad Sangma exuded confidence people would vote for their candidate saying, “Williamnagar and East Garo Hills have never abandoned my late father P A Sangma and his party.”
The chief minister did not miss an opportunity to lash out at the previous Congress government accusing it of leaving behind a huge financial mess in the state.
“The government of Mukul Sangma did not clear SSA teachers’ salaries amounting to 140 crores. It was left to us and we did it in three weeks of our tenure. Old age pension has not been cleared for 18 months since 2016. Who was in government then?” attacked Conrad Sangma.
The Congress also hit back at the NPP over its tie up with the BJP for government formation and its past record of ailing to complete a full term in office. It did not forget to enlighten voters of the ‘development’ under the party and its candidate Deborah Marak and appealed for her return to the assembly.
Williamnagar has a total of 32,345 voters. There are 58 polling stations under Williamnagar constituency. Balsrigittim polling station in the heart of the town has the highest number of voters- 1273. The lowest number of voters (83) falls in Naregre polling station.
The last election in 2013 witnessed Williamnagar registering a voter turnout of 79.24 percent.