SHILLONG, Nov 20: NPP national president and Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma may contest the 2023 Assembly polls from South Tura.
While the party has not confirmed the same, NPP sources dismissed speculations that the CM would contest from two seats. The source said NPP is projecting Selsella MDC Arbin Marak as the party candidate from the constituency.
The source also said that the NPP considers Rongjeng to be the “safest constituency” for the Sangma family but sitting party MLA Jim M Sangma is likely to get the ticket again.
The source also made it clear that there was no discussion among the NPP leadership about the chief minister wanting to contest from two constituencies.
It may be recalled that following the release of BJP state vice president Bernard N Marak from jail, party state president Ernest Mawrie had dared the CM to contest from South Tura.
“Chief Minister Conrad Sangma is aware of the rising popularity of Bernard Marak and is scared of losing the peoples’ mandate in Tura. The people of Tura and the state have already made up their mind to oust the NPP government in the upcoming elections,” Mawrie had stated.
He had further challenged the CM to fight only from the South Tura seat and not hedge his career by fighting on two seats, and face the might of Bernard in his own backyard.
Reacting to the challenge, NPP state president WR Kharlukhi had termed the BJP a “toothless tiger which only knows how to lick and not to bite”.
He had also slammed the BJP for speculating that the CM would contest from two seats despite there being no talk about it.
“They (BJP) are trying to create something out of nothing just to project Bernard as a contender which he is not,” Kharlukhi had added.
Conrad fittest man for CM’s job: Sniawbhalang
Meanwhile, Cabinet Minister and NPP national vice president Sniawbhalang Dhar on Sunday said the party would not be interested in projecting a fresh chief ministerial candidate since Conrad K Sangma was the fittest man for the job.
“Personally, I feel that he (Conrad) is an efficient and able leader. He is our best bet for the CM’s post,” Dhar said.
He also claimed that the NPP will win all the seven seats in Jaintia Hills if elections are held now.
“But I can confidently say that we are going to win at least five seats,” Dhar said, while exuding confidence that the NPP would manage to win around 36 seats in the Assembly polls.