SHILLONG, Jan 9: United Democratic Party (UDP) candidate from South Tura, John Leslee K. Sangma said Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma is betraying his panic by putting up his pictures every 10 metres in Tura.
“If you go to Tura, you will see hoardings everywhere and pictures of the Chief Minister promising a better tomorrow or a better future. These are not being put up by people who actually support him since there are hoardings in my own establishment,” he told reporters after the UDP made him the party candidate for the South Tura seat.
John Sangma will take on the CM among others in the upcoming Assembly polls.
He said the photographic blitz shows the CM is unsure of retaining South Tura since he has done nothing for the constituency and its people during the past five years despite ample opportunities.
The UDP South Tura candidate said the people will assess the CM’s work for the constituency as the local MLA.
“I feel the biggest drawback for Conrad was his inability to give time to the people of the constituency. He has made whirlwind tours to Tura as people from all over West Garo Hills flock to his residence,” he said, claiming that his position is much better as people have access to him at any point in time.
John Sangma said he left the BJP because of disagreement with the party’s ideology.
“I am totally against the rising atrocities against my fellow Christians. I decided to quit the party after seeing my fellow Christians being attacked in other parts of the country,” he said.
He condemned the Assam Police’s letter seeking information about conversion activities and the number of churches in Assam.
“I do not believe the claim of the Assam Chief Minister that he is not aware of the letter. I will believe only when he takes action against the officer concerned for violating the constitutional rights of the Christians,” he added.
On the controversy surrounding state BJP vice-president and party candidate from South Tura, Bernard R. Marak, the UDP candidate said the people of Tura know what actually happened.
“So many things have already been printed and I definitely feel he’s not the right candidate for the people. I decided to challenge his candidature because I feel it’s wrong and I wanted to let the people of Tura have a choice,” he said.
He felt the UDP has a very strong chance in South Tura but they will need to work hard.
He recalled how the late P.A. Sangma had accused former UDP president, the late Donkupar Roy of committing atrocities on the Garo people.
“But after the 2008 Assembly polls, the late PA Sangma went to Shillong and made Roy the Chief Minister,” he said.
The UDP candidate also remembered Conrad Sangma stating, when Roy passed away, that he lost his father for the second time.
“So, the hypocrisy keeps on repeating and I think the people of the state are aware of this,” he said.
