PHULBARI, Feb 12: Three-time MLA and former Speaker of Meghalaya Assembly, Abu Taher Mondal, stated that the decision to join the NPP was a collective one and was taken after consultations with his supporters, friends and family as well as looking at the strength of the NPP in the state.
“NPP is the only pan-Meghalaya party that has winnability and stands a good chance in the upcoming elections. This was not my decision alone as I consulted everyone including my voters, supporters, well-wishers before jumping the ship,” Mondal said at a recent interview in Phulbari.
Asked about his chances of winning the seat, Mondal said he leaves it to the almighty though his party’s assessment indicates that he stands a hundred per cent chance of winning.
Interestingly, the former Speaker felt that canvassing in the state has transformed.
“Gone are the days when you needed to hold big meetings and make plenty of noise. I have personally seen that now it all depends on getting the love of the people by visiting their homes. This has really changed the game altogether,” he said.
Mondal, however, chose to remain silent on the performance of his main rival, Mominin. “There are many things that an MLA should not do but I can’t disclose what it is. You need to find out for yourself,” he said.
Mondal took credit for surface connectivity in the area.
“New roads and connectivity were all undertaken during my time, especially after delimitation in 2013. Proper connectivity of these villages came during by me. In 2014, there was a devastating flood that washed away almost all roads but we rebuilt that. When people talk of development, they don’t count this,” he lamented.
Mondal said education has always been an area that has been given thrust by him adding that is why he helped in bettering the school system and infrastructure during his tenure.
“My emphasis is on quality education and that is why Phulbari became a small education hub drawing students from other areas. This is because we have changed the system and got better. The results have been there to see for everyone,” he added.
On the administration front, he said the Demdema C&RD Block has come as a blessing to locals.
Speaking about the power scenario, he said that Phulbari presents as one of the worst cases despite his attempts to ensure better load distribution by upgrading the lines from 33 KV to 132 KV.
Mondal is in a neck-to-neck fight with former MLA of Phulbari and the TMC contestant, SG Esmatur Mominin. Two others, the UDP’s Zinbaward Sangma and the BJP’s Edmund Sangma will look to upset the applecart.
