SHILLONG, Jan 31: NPP’s East Shillong candidate Ampareen Lyngdoh downplayed the CBI case against her in the infamous education scam and said it would not impact her election prospects.
“It is a matter that has been discussed before and I have full faith in the country’s judiciary. Until such time (a verdict), I am innocent,” she told reporters after filing her nomination on Tuesday.
Continuing family traditions, Ampareen and her sister Jasmine Lyngdoh from Nongthymmai filed their nominations in the first hour on the first day of filing nominations at the DC’s office here.
While the former filed her nomination before returning officer SS Syiemlieh, the latter filed her papers before returning officer RS Manners.
Denying any anti-incumbency on her fifth attempt to become an MLA, Ampareen was confident that her support base would expand because of her grassroots connect and principled approach to implementing developmental programmes and policies.
Ampareen said she chose NPP as it is a national party rooted in Meghalaya and with an ideology similar to Congress, her former party.
“NPP is not a communal party and believes in grassroots politics,” she said.
Jasmine Lyngdoh said her chances have been brightened by the sub-par performance of the sitting Nongthymmai MLA (Charles Pyngrope). She termed her opponents as sleeping giants.
“I am bound to get an advantage when the giants are sleeping,” she said.
The two sisters arrived at the DC’s office walking hand in hand, leading a crowd of NPP supporters who chanted slogans and sang songs.
Former legislator and minister, Pynshai Manik Syiem also filed his nomination for the Mylliem seat on Tuesday.
Syiem, who is pitted against NPP’s Hamletson Dohling, said the state will be finished if the NPP is voted to power. “But what I foresee is that the NPP will also be finished if it loses the polls,” said Syiem, who was accompanied by his daughter and former MDC Teilinia Thangkhiew.
He was confident that people would remember his past performance and re-elect him.
Thangkhiew said she decided to support her father since the state needed a statesman and not a mere politician.
Details of affidavits
Ampareen’s affidavit mentioned the charges framed against her by the CBI.
According to the affidavit, there is a Laitumkhrah police station case number 62 (7) of 2011 pending against her. The CBI subsequently took over the case after a direction from the High Court of Meghalaya.
The case is registered under sections 120 B, 420, 467, 468, 471, and 201 of the IPC, read with section 13 (12) of the Prevention of Corruption Act.
The affidavit also said allegations of criminal conspiracy, cheating, forgery, the disappearance of evidence or giving false information and criminal misconduct framed on August 24, 2022.
The affidavit further stated that the gross total value of her moveable assets is Rs 50.05 lakh, including her deposits worth Rs 38.57 lakh and a vehicle worth Rs 10 lakh.
The total current market value of her immovable asset is Rs 1.65 crore, which includes three plots of non-agricultural land.
As per Syiem’s affidavit, he owns a licensed 25/32 bore pistol. The gross total value of his assets is Rs 12.46 lakh while the current market value of his immoveable asset is Rs 4.25 crore that includes agricultural land in Ri-Bhoi whose current market value is Rs 3 crore.