‘NPP-UDP mock fight fixed’

SHILLONG, July 14: The Opposition Meghalaya Pradesh Trinamool Congress on Thursday accused the United Democratic Party (UDP) of engaging in a ‘mock fight’ with the National People’s Party by putting up a show of concern and raising questions against the ruling party in an apparent move to fool the people ahead of the battle of ballots in 2023.
MPTC leader George B Lyngdoh said the UDP and NPP had ‘fixed the match’ already and were working in tandem behind closed doors as part of a bigger plan to mislead the citizens.
“It is nothing new for regional parties who support major national parties. In previous years too we have seen how the UDP continuously supported the Congress government and when election drew near they started blaming the government for everything,” Lyngdoh recalled.
“This time also they have continuously and strongly supported the NPP in spite of all the problems that we have seen. And now, in order to gain sympathy of the people they are blaming the NPP,” he added.
Recalling that Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma had already harped on the “team work” among the MDA partners, Lyngdoh said, “They are all part of the plan. They have enjoyed so much in the Secretariat and now that they ready to go to the ‘battlefield’ in the respective constituencies, they are trying to fool the people.”
He added: “People remember the candidate and the party and they forget the mudslinging between the parties in the constituencies who have worked together in the government. Since people tend to forget, there is an attempt being made to fool the people.”
Pointing out that the burden on the public due to price escalation is the result of illegal toll gates and collection of toll from vehicles carrying essentials, diversion of trucks due to overloading and threat to the Umiam bridge, he said, “All this adds to the escalation of cost of food and other items that are being sold in the state.”
“The government had given an assurance that these gates will be removed. We have the District Council Affairs department handled by the UDP and we also have a CEM in the KHADC from the same party. So what is barring them from ensuring that this looting stops?” the Umroi MLA questioned.