Conrad announces civil sub-division, paves way for Danggo entry into NPP

MAWKYRWAT/ SHILLONG: Chief Minister Conrad Sangma’s announcement on Tuesday that Ranikor would be upgraded to a civil sub-division paved the way for Congress MLA and former PWD minister MM Danggo to join the National People’s Party.
People ignored inclement weather to welcome Sangma, who was on his first visit after becoming the chief minister.
While Ranikor Congress leaders joined NPP on Tuesday, Danggo said he would resign from the party and the MLA’s post on the day of the inauguration of the civil sub-division.
The date for the inauguration will be decided by local leaders and the district administration.
The Congress was rejected en masse in the constituency in South West Khasi Hills as the Ranikor Block Congress Committee was dissolved and its flag was replaced with that of NPP’s.
District Congress Committee president Kitborlang Nongrem, Ranikor Block Congress Committee president German Nongsiang and other leaders and workers of 65 primary units in the block resigned and joined NPP.
“I am thankful to the chief minister for his assurance to accept our memorandum and demands. I assure him that I will resign from the Congress as and when the date for the inauguration of the new civil sub-division is made by the chief minister,” Danggo said at the public meeting.
The Ranikor MLA said he was “excited and very happy” to join NPP because the MDA government “fulfilled his dreams in just a few days while the successive governments could not do anything for his people for more than a decade”.
“I will abide by the decision of the people and I have no regrets because I sacrificed for the good of the people,” he added.
Sangma, while making the announcement, said people of Ranikor were neglected and they deserved more.
While recalling his visits to Ranikor and its adjoining areas, Sangma said, “Every time I visited Ranikor, I could see the problems faced by the people who have to travel for several hours and many kilometres to reach offices just to get one signature.”
Sangma had visited the region 10-15 times before coming to power.
“This MDA government is made by the people and for the people and every constituent of this government is committed to working for the people and it is always an endeavour of the government to bring administration closer to them,” he added.
Admitting that with Ranikor being upgraded, people in other parts of the state would also flag their demands, the chief minister assured that the government was committed to examining all the areas and find “practical and feasible solution” to ensure that administration is closer to the people. “It has started from Ranikor and the process will continue.”
The Ministry of Road and Transport has assured to give Rs 8,000 crore for road projects in Meghalaya and all district headquarters will be connected by quality roads, Sangma informed the gathering.
The detailed project reports for the Ranikor-Maheshkhola-Baghmara road and the Wahkaji-Ranikor road have been prepared and will be allotted soon.
On the MDA government’s commitment to farmers, Sangma said it has created the Directorate of Food Processing to ensure that farmers get a better price for their produce.
“The government is targeting that in one year, all the households in the state will get electricity,” he added.
Others who were present included Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong, Home Minister James Sangma, Industries Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar, Mawshynrut MLA Gigur Myrthong, Deputy Speaker Timothy D Shira and Mawkyrwat MLA Renikton L Tongkhar.
Later, the state president of NPP, WR Kharlukhi, confirmed the names of the office bearers of the NPP block committee in which German Nongsiang was elected as the president and Nelbi Sangma the general secretary.