GUWAHATI: Former legislator, Billy Kid A. Sangma termed chief minister and NPP national president, Conrad K Sangma’s thumping win in the South Tura by-poll as a “victory of the people of South Tura constituency.”
“This is a victory of the people of South Tura. Everyone wanted Tura, being the second largest town in Meghalaya,but very much neglected for over four decades now, to develop. People had the belief that the present chief minister would be able to transform Tura town into a developed one,” Billy Kid, who had contested on a BJP ticket but lost to Conrad’s sister, Agatha Sangma in the February Assembly polls, told The Shillong Times after the by-poll results were declared on Monday.
Conrad defeated his nearest rival, Charlotte W. Momin of Congress by over 8,400 votes.
His sister Agatha had vacated the seat on July 2 to enable him to contest the by-poll which was necessary if he had to continue as chief minister.
Asked if the “chief minister” factor had a bearing on the outcome, Billy Kid said, “Yes, it was a factor. People have lot of faith in the new, young and energetic chief minister, which why they voted for him.”
Admitting that the CM factor was also one of the reasons for his decision to opt out of the poll race, he said, “Congress MLAs and supporters of parties had approached me to contest the bypoll from their parties but I refused. I thought it was not wise to contest against the CM. The bottom line is that the constituency has to grow and develop and none other than the chief minister can perform this role better.”
The BJP member along with the likes of political candidates such as Bernard Rimpu N. Marak and Jingjang Marak had not only opted out of the contest but actively garnered support for Conrad Sangma in the run-up to the by-poll.