SHILLONG, Jan 12: Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Thursday said Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Mukul Sangma’s strategy to contest from two seats – Songsak and Tikrikilla – in the upcoming Assembly elections may backfire.
The chief minister said it will be risky for the TMC leader as the latter will have to divide his time and energy. It is not going to be so simple, Conrad further said.
“He is taking a huge risk by contesting from the two seats,” Conrad, who heads the National People’s Party, said.
Stating that it is Mukul’s personal decision, he said it is unfortunate that the former CM had left Ampati which made him what he is today. He then moved to Songsak where the people had put a lot of trust and faith in him, the chief minister said.
“Now, he is leaving Songsak and going to Tikrikilla. I don’t know what he has in his mind,” Conrad said.
On his decision to stick to South Tura, the CM said he is committed to the people and the constituency.
“I have always maintained that I’m not a person who jumps around. I think commitment to your constituency and the people is very important. That is number one for me. I am committed to the people of South Tura and my constituency,” he said.
He further stated that he had worked very hard in the last five years to bring about change and his efforts have shown some results. Positive results are slowly being seen as development is coming to Tura as well, he said.
“Because of the work that has happened, I am pretty sure that the people of Tura will once again repose their faith in me. I am confident that I am going to retain the South Tura seat,” Conrad said.
Asked if there is a feeling that the CM should be from the Khasi-Jaintia Hills region, he said, “The MLAs will decide and it is a democratic process. There’s nothing to say that the CM has to be from a certain tribe, caste or religion. So, whoever the MLAs will elect will become the CM,” he added.
