SHILLONG: Home Minister James Sangma on Friday said the party has taken the electoral battle in Tura seriously after the Congress announced the name of CLP leader and former chief minister Mukul Sangma as the candidate for Tura.
The central election committees of both the NPP and the Congress officially announced the names of Agatha Sangma and Mukul, respectively, in Delhi on Friday.
Speaking to reporters, James said election is always a challenge and the biggest mistake is to take things for granted.
He said the process of organising party workers is in full swing.
“We cannot be over confident. We are taking every opponent seriously and the party workers are already in the field,” he added.
He, however, claimed that the party has an edge in Tura while informing that similar edge is there for the MDA candidate in Shillong, Jemino Mawthoh, who will take on sitting MP Vincent Pala whose name was officially cleared by the central election committee of the Congress on Friday.
James, however, reminded that in 2004 general election and 2006 by-poll for Tura Lok Sabha seat, Mukul was defeated by P A Sangma.
No nexus with BJP
To a question, Sangma said NPP is a different political entity and hence the party is contesting the polls separately.
The Congress had accused the NPP for having alliance with BJP.
However, James said, “We are a complete entity and we have a different voice expressing itself in the name of minorities and tribals.”
Commenting on the recent meeting with NEDA partners in Guwahati, James said the NPP had made it clear that the party will be contesting the Lok Sabha seats separately.
Earlier, the central election committee of NPP also cleared the name of Ferlene Sangma to contest the Selsella by-poll.
