SHILLONG, Feb 4: Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong on Saturday played it safe on the possibility of a Khasi becoming the chief minister after the Assembly election results.
Reacting to a query, he said the NPP is in the middle of the election battle and once it crosses the magic numbers, the elected members will elect the leader.
Asked if he does not aspire to become the CM, Tynsong said, “Did I say this? We are in the middle of the bridge and in both regions (Khasi-Jaintia and Garo Hills), we will get 33-34 seats.”
He pooh poohed the claim of a wave in favour of the BJP snubbing it as a “cold wave”.
Stating that he does not believe in fractured verdict, he expressed optimism that people will vote the NPP to power again. He bravely defended the MDA government over the delay in fulfilling the demands like ILP and the inclusion of Khasi and Garo languages in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution.
Tynsong said the ILP issue has been mentioned in the NPP manifesto and the party will continue to follow it up with the central government. Tacitly admitting that MDA government could not delivery to the fullest, he pointed out that the coalition was able to serve only for two-and-a-half years due to intervention of the COVID-19 pandemic.
He said the Trinamool Congress’ (TMC) promise to revoke the Assam-Meghalaya border agreement only showed the party is not serious about the issue. He said if TMC leader Mukul Sangma sticks to his decision on contesting from two seats and wins both, people will lose their faith in him as he will have to resign from one.
Dismissing the allegations of scams and corruption against the government, Tynsong reiterated if somebody has any evidence, he or she should take legal recourse.
He expressed surprise that the regional parties, which have been a part and parcel of the MDA government for five years, are now throwing stones at it. But the NPP does not mind it, he added.
