TURA: The campaign for the April 27 election to Williamnagar constituency came 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 that has the highest consolidated vote share.
While Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma held a large rally at Rongrenggre field to drum up support for NPP’s Marcuise Marak, the Congress organised similar meetings at different points of the town.
Former chief minister Mukul Sangma along with Mendipathar legislator Marthon Sangma, Salmanpara MLA Winnerson Sangma and Rangsakona MLA Zenith Sangma led the Congress charge to mobilise support for Deborah Marak.
For NPP, besides the chief minister, Home Minister James K Sangma, GHADC CEM Dipul Marak, Siju Rongara legislator Rakkam A Sangma, Mawshynrut MLA G Myrthong added teeth to the party campaign.
The NCP campaign was led by party president Saleng Sangma.
Concluding the election campaign for NPP, Conrad exuded confidence that people would vote for NPP. “Williamnagar and East Garo Hills have never abandoned my late father P A Sangma and his party,” he said.
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.
“The government of Mukul Sangma did not clear SSA teachers’ salaries amounting to Rs 140 crore. 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,” said Conrad.
The Congress also hit back at 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 and appealed for her return to the Assembly.
Williamnagar has a total of 32,345 voters. There are 58 polling stations in the constituency. Balsrigittim polling station in the heart of the town has the highest number of voters at 1,273. The booth with the lowest number of voters (83) is at Naregre.
The last election in 2013 witnessed a voter turnout of 79.24 percent.
