SHILLONG, Feb 23: NPP national president and Chief Minister, Conrad K Sangma on Wednesday said his party would strive for an absolute majority in the 2023 Assembly polls.
“We have to work hard to ensure a majority,” said Sangma.
Member of the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council Fantin Joseph Lakadong (Congress) and executive member Grace Mary Kharpuri, along with former Jirang MDC William L. Mynsong and Congress leader from Ri-Bhoi, Albertus Lapang joined the NPP on Wednesday.
Jasmine Lyngdoh, the sister of veteran Congress leader RG Lyngdoh and suspended CLP chief Ampareen Lyngdoh also joined the party.
“I welcome all these leaders and workers to the NPP and I’m sure with their contribution, we will be able to strengthen the party and serve the people of our constituencies and of the state as a whole,” the chief minister said.
Sangma said there are three important things in any organisation or political party – ideology, leadership and principle on which it runs. “We have tried to focus on all of these three important things,” he said.
Kharpuri said it was the quality and principle of the leaders of the NPP that made her join the party. Pointing out that she has worked with quite a few political parties, she said there is a lot of internal rumbles in them, unlike the NPP.
She said any political party is like a family and needs a healthy atmosphere for growth and the chief minister and the deputy chief minister are leaders they can count on.
Lakadong echoed Kharpuri’s sentiments. “We need a stable government to handle critical issues. I am not saying that we will be able to solve all problems, but I have seen that they are trying to,” he added.
