TURA: Discarding the last two weeks of a dull road show, the mercury has suddenly risen as the deadline for political campaign draws to a close on Tuesday evening with the two major political parties, Congress and NPP, throwing everything at each other in the battle for the voters rights.
Monday was by far one of the most hectic campaigning to take place in Tura by both the arch rivals. The Congress held a major campaign in the heart of Tura bazar with former chief minister Mukul Sangma leading the Congress attack against NPP candidate and current chief minister Conrad K Sangma.
Aided by younger brother Zenith M Sangma and Salmanpara legislator Winnerson D Sangma, the former chief minister attacked the NPP candidate on a series of issues ranging from the NRC and work permit controversy to the trouble that flared up at Motphram area over the sweeper colony. Mukul Sangma also held a meeting at Rishipara and Akonggre localities on Sunday while his party candidate Charlotte W Momin visited several other localities including the leper colony to garner support for her candidature.
The NPP, on the other hand, decided to make the campaign more colorful by holding a huge bike and car rally on Monday morning. Hundreds of supporters of Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma, carrying colorful NPP flags andbanners and riding two and four wheelers, took out a rally from Late P A Sangma’s house in Walbakgre passing through the main thoroughfares of the town heading out to Sangsanggre and back.
Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma addressed crowds at Matchakolgre locality of the town on Monday evening alongside Tourism Minister Metbah Lyngdoh and Social Welfare minister Kyrmen Shylla among others.
“Our government is an inclusive one involving every stakeholder. We are directly interacting with the people to find which is the best projects that can be taken up for the development of the state and our people,” said Conrad Sangma at Matchakolgre before a large crowd of people.
He also took a dig at former chief minister Mukul Sangma whom he accused of being a solitary leader who refused to allow others to work.
“A chief minister has to engage with his cabinet colleagues and bureaucrats and allot work so that everyone is taken on board. In the case of Dr Mukul Sangma he never allowed his ministers to work preferring to hold on to 20 portfolios for himself. That is not how a chief minister works in a democratic set up,” lashed out Conrad Sangma much to the applause of the crowds present.
“If the chief minister of a state keeps everything for himself then how can his colleagues work and how can the state progress. Our government does not subscribe to such an ideology,” added the chief minister.
He also accused Mukul Sangma and the Congress of twisting his statement on work permits to ain political mileage.
“Why should I bring Bangladeshis to India. Our intention is to find a mechanism to identify illegal Bangladeshi immigrants in our state. Who are illegal and who are genuine citizens. We will discuss with all cross sections of the people to find the right mechanism to identify the illegal immigrants. That is our stand,” said the chief minister.