SHILLONG, Feb 1: NPP national president and Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Tuesday exuded confidence on his party’s poll prospects saying NPP has the firepower to replicate the feat of All Party Hill Leaders Conference which is the only party in Meghalaya to secure absolute majority under the mercurial leadership of late Chief Minister Captain Williamson A Sangma in 1972. The party had won 32 seats.
“What the APHLC did in 1972, the NPP can do in 2023,” said Sangma while addressing an election rally in the plain belt of Garo Hills region.
In 1972, APHLC became the apple of all eyes when it created a record unparalleled in the electoral history of Meghalaya.
Giving reasons as to why that target is not impossible to achieve, Conrad said the performance of his government and the successful implementation of multiple schemes aimed at farmers, youth and women is making other parties and governments to go for a reality check.
“FOCUS and FOCUS+ are transforming people’s lives. Each household are getting benefit from these schemes. A sum of Rs 5,000 for a group and another Rs 5,000 in the personal account for each beneficiary has been a game changer and seeing our success other parties are replicating our models of governance. They are forced to promise voters of financial support,” said Conrad.
He also took a dig at Mukul Sangma.
“Mukul Sangma is now talking about the TMC’s Women Empowerment or WE card promising financial aid only now when elections have arrived. He was Chief Minister, who headed a government for eight years. Why did he not come up with developmental schemes then? What stopped him? One of his own party MLAs, who defected has even questioned as to why he is offering lip service now. Why didn’t he do that while he was in power for eight years,” asked Conrad.
It may be mentioned that TMC leader Mukul Sangma has decided to contest from Tikrikilla, apart from Songsak and is holding rallies to consolidate his position.
Campaigning vigorously in the same region, the Chief Minister said, “The main Opposition party in the state has been weakened by splits. People are looking for a strong and stable party and turning to the NPP.”
Sangma also defended his party’s decision of not giving tickets to few sitting MLAs stating that a number of schemes and projects released by the government were not implemented in constituencies by the elected representatives.
“We found that despite so many projects sanctioned, implementation part on the ground was dismal. As the leader of the constituency the buck stops with them. People were left abandoned and deprived of development in both the hill areas and the plains of the constituency. The NPP is committed to people who are paramount for us. That is why, we had to take decisive step,” the CM said.
Quoting his late father and political stalwart PA Sangma, Conrad said, “He served the people and did not hanker after money.”
Conrad said his father was unmoved even in the face of opposition for his decision to drop the party’s sitting MLA. PA Sangma’s critics had attacked him on social media and Facebook orchestrating a negative campaign against him, but he refused to respond, the CM said.
On NPP’s decision to choose AT Mondal over the party’s sitting MLA SG Esmatur Mominin from Phulbari constituency, he said, “The reason we chose to field AT Mondal as our party candidate is simple. I would like to quote my late father PA Sangma in this context. Never chase power, money or the chair. Work dedicatedly for the people and they will reward you.”
Conrad said in the last five years, his government has sanctioned many schemes for Phulbari but it did not get implemented.
“A political leader can never differentiate among people and cannot allow greed to overtake people’s welfare,” the CM said and showered praise on Mondal whom he said the latter has a political history of working for all communities.
