SHILLONG, Jan 31: NPP national president and Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Tuesday put up a show of strength in Ampati, the traditional stronghold of TMC leader Mukul Sangma.
The chief minister entered the constituency on a two-wheeler, leading some 2,000 bikers and later promised 5 lakh jobs through different entrepreneurship programmes and initiatives – 2 lakh more than what the TMC promised.
Addressing an election meeting at Ampati, the CM assured 5 lakh jobs through entrepreneurship.
He said the NPP-led government initiated various welfare activities for the youth in the past five years. These include PRIME entailing financial assistance and training for entrepreneurial activities.
“Our party has been committed to the welfare of the youth. Through programmes like PRIME, we have promoted entrepreneurship in Meghalaya,” he said.
He insisted the NPP endeavoured to channelise the positive energy of the youth with programmes such as ASPIRE Meghalaya and YESS Meghalaya.
He further said the NPP would continue promoting programmes to tap the potential of the state’s youth in sports, music and other co-curricular activities. “We will leverage the positive energy of the youth if we get the mandate of the people,” he assured.
Reminding the gathering that in 2018, the NPP did not win a single seat from South West Garo Hills, he said it was difficult for the government to initiate development interventions as all the MLAs were from the opposition and did not cooperate with the government.
He claimed the NPP was heading for an absolute majority in the state and South Garo Hills would stand to gain if it stood by the party. “It is always best to have MLAs from the ruling side,” he said.
Insisting that the TMC was a divided house, the CM said many TMC supporters have been joining the NPP as they are convinced that there is no future with the West Bengal-based party.
Many TMC members joined the NPP during Tuesday’s election meeting and pledged support for Stevie Marak, Subir Marak, Sanjay A Sangma and Ian Botham K Sangma, the NPP candidates from South Garo Hills.
More than 7,000 people turned out for the meeting.
