MDA discusses South Tura by-poll

SHILLONG: Chief Minister Conrad Sangma said on Wednesday that most of alliance partners are supporting his candidature in the South Tura by-poll.
Talking to reporters after an MDA meeting, Sangma said some parties are discussing the matter with their regional members since some local leaders want to contest. “I will meet them and appeal as well to support my candidature,” he said.
Conrad will visit Tura on Friday and his party workers have already started campaigning.
The UDP’s Tura unit wants to field its candidate.
When asked about the Ranikor by-poll where coalition partners of the MDA like PDF and UDP are fielding candidates, the chief minister said they would not interfere in the decisions of the parties since every party is independent and has the right to contest the elections. He, however, expressed confidence that the political developments will not affect the coalition government.
Citing the example of Williamnagar by-poll where both NCP and NPP contested against each other without any political ramifications, Conrad said the Ranikor by-poll will not affect the coalition and the MDA government.
Draft CMP
The draft of the Common Minimum Programme of the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance is ready and the government is hoping to finalise it in the next meeting.
Sangma said secretary and some members of the MDA were not there in the meeting so they could not take the programme forward.
“We will give it a complete shape in the next meeting,” the chief minister said. There is emphasis on the education sector, quality teachers and improving teaching of Science and Mathematics. The draft also wants “revamp of MBoSE”.
Besides, it seeks employability in agriculture, horticulture, animal husbandry and fishery.