SHILLONG, Dec 2: As the Assembly polls draw nearer, the National People’s Party (NPP) is gearing up to sweep the plain-belt region of Garo Hills, filling its camp with the best contenders even if that meant replacing sitting legislators with others to allot the party ticket. As such, NPP MLA from Phulbari SG Esmatur Mominin is being replaced by former Congress leader AT Mondol to contest from Phulbari seat on NPP ticket.
Mondol will be joining the NPP at a function which will be held at the NPP office on Saturday afternoon.
Confirming this, NPP state president and parliamentarian, WR Kharlukhi told The Shillong Times that the intention of the party is to sweep the plain-belt of the Garo Hills region and the decision to field Mondol in place of Mominin from Phulbari is all but a part of the big plan which again is based on extensive study conducted in the region.
He said Mondol joining the party will further the cause of the NPP in making their intentions a reality.
“It will boost the party, especially in the plain belt with him and (Abdus) Saleh there. We are trying to sweep the plain belt,” he said.
He further said, “We have made a study and we know how strong is our sitting MLA and we are very happy that Mondol will join us and the message is clear that the sitting MLA will not get the ticket”.
Asked if this is not betrayal to the Phulbari MLA, he said it is all about performance and in-depth study of the constituency and the candidate.
The plain belt areas of the Garo Hills region consist of Raksamgre, Tikrikilla, Phulbari, Rajabala, Mahendraganj and Selsella. While the NPP had the Rajabala, Phulbari, Raksamgre and Selsella seats, Raksamgre NPP MLA Benedic R Marak and Selsella NPP MLA Ferlin CA Sangma have recently resigned and the same is expected of the Phulbari seat with Mondol’s joining.
The Mahendraganj seat belongs to TMC legislator Dikkanchi Shira where the NPP is pitching Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma’s brother-in-law Sanjay A Sangma.
The party has made it clear that the phenomenon of NPP MLAs resigning is due to the fact that they were aware of given the party ticket.
Meanwhile, a source close to the party revealed that Tikrikilla MLA Jimmy Sangma is likely to switch over from the Trinamool to the NPP.
Phulbari MLA puts out feelers
Phulbari MLA from NPP, SG Esmatur Mominin has hinted that he may join the Trinamool Congress (TMC).
Mominin, who also met NPP senior leader Prestone Tynsong here, said it is still undecided whether the NPP leadership will allot ticket to him or not.
“I am still in the NPP. Let us see if the party decides otherwise, then I will discuss the matter with my supporters,” Mominin said.
Asked about AT Mondal’s entry into the NPP, the Phulbari MLA said that there are suggestions from his supporters that he should be joining the TMC.
“I have not taken any decision till now but I will discuss with my supporters and take a final call,” he said
It is pertinent to note that the NPP this time around is not issuing tickets to three sitting MLAs including Mominin, Ferlin Sangma and Benedic R Marak.
While Sangma and Marak have already resigned as MLAs and are all set to join the BJP soon, Mominin is yet to announce his future course of action, but speculation is running rife that would eventually join TMC.
