SHILLONG, Jan 23: The NPP stressed the need to maintain dignity and elegance in electoral campaigning in keeping with the culture and tradition of Meghalaya unlike the disruptive trend set by students from other states employed as political analysts by the Trinamool Congress.
Taking note of such a trend by the TMC and its strategist I-PAC, NPP spokesperson Ampareen Lyngdoh said people in Meghalaya do not attack rival party leaders distastefully.
She pointed out that Meghalaya has never had poll violence and the defacement of walls and streets. But certain political strategists put up a so-called creative social media post presenting the CM and his spouse extremely distastefully, she said.
“This kind of propaganda goes beyond politics, and is not aligned with our culture. But this is not surprising as a TMC leader recently posted a joke on the Khasi attire on social media pages that belittled the Prime Minister,” Lyngdoh said.
The TMC leader’s post indicated a lack of integrity and respect, she said.
There has been a wave of social media campaigns driven by political analysts and groups operating from outside the state.
“Facebook profiles are made to roast ruling political party leaders. They have run extensive political campaigns, brought large crowds from Assam for TMC’s rally and posted caricatures of UDP, NPP and Congress leaders on social media. A sense of momentum has made them intensify such campaigns, which is where the TMC has gone wrong,” Lyngdoh said.
She recalled TMC leader Charles Pyngrope saying that the I-PAC cannot handle the campaigning for Congress as it has already started working for TMC. “The statement underscored Meghalaya TMC’s dependence on I-PAC and its political warriors,” she said.
“The dependence seems to be proving costly for the TMC. These analysts have not taken into consideration the political culture of Meghalaya. They are either not aware or intend to disrupt the culture and create a niche,” Lyngdoh said.
She also said the interference of the strategists has already started to be counter-productive for the TMC. For instance, 26 members of the Pynursla Block TMC left the party and joined the youth wing of the NPP after disgruntlement with the West Bengal-based party, she added.
The NPP also said that for the first time in Mukul Sangma’s political career as a leader, the party manifesto would be released by a leader from West Bengal and not by him.
Have full faith in law: Ampareen
Days after the NPP published the criminal antecedents of three party candidates – Ampareen Lyngdoh of East Shillong, Teiborlang Pathaw of Mawlai and Thomas Sangma of North Tura – Lyngdoh said she has full faith in the judiciary.
All the political parties in the state have been directed by the Election Commission to make the disclosure about the candidates who have criminal antecedents.
Lyngdoh said that the matter pertaining to the CBI case is currently in court and that the allegations are yet to be proven in a court of law.
“I have full faith in the judicial system of this country and will defend my innocence before the court. Since the case is sub-judice, it would be improper for me to comment on the case further,” she said.
