SHILLONG, Feb 14: The electoral contest between NPP and TMC, the two primary contestants in the Garo Hills region, is turning more intense as polling day approaches with both parties now resorting to personal attacks.
NPP national president and Chief Minister, Conrad K Sangma on Tuesday called Opposition leader Mukul Sangma as “ungrateful” for choosing to contest from Tikrikilla, despite being an elected MLA from Songsak.
“People of Songsak should ask Mukul which one he will leave if he wins both the seats,” the NPP chief reasoned.
He was quick to state that the mood is not in favour of TMC and Mukul will lose both the seats.
“We are confident of winning majority of seats. Our reading is that this time NPP will win both Songsak and Tikrikilla seats. Mukul’s days are numbered as people will vote for a party that cares,” he said.
Conrad said people of Songsak had suffered as their MLA was busy only in politics, running from Congress to TMC, and failed to represent the aspiration of the people.
The CM sought people’s mandate for party candidate Nihim D Shira.
Stating that the people of Songsak are fortunate to have Nihim as their leader as he is ever willing to work for them, the NPP chief said, “Mukul never came to me. He was busy in his own world. He forgot his people from the constituency and now he is juggling between Songsak and Tikrikilla with hope to win.”
“People should not get carried away by his false promises, and vote for a party that is forming the government with absolute majority,” he said.
He further said the political readings are very clear and people from every nook and corner of the state have come together to pitch strongly for the NPP.
At Melim, under Gambegre constituency, Conrad hit out at Rakesh Sangma’s rival candidate Saleng Sangma and the Congress.
He informed that several civil subdivision and C&RD blocks which were created last year in the state were long cherished demands of the people, which were fulfilled by the NPP-led government.
“We have managed to initiate iconic projects in different regions of the State. Our mantra has been holistic development and growth of the state. We ensure equitable and inclusive development interventions,” Conrad said.
He further said that Congress has problem with leadership and the party had weakened across the country.
“The Congress party has been rejected by all states and Mukul’s move to join TMC has gone wrong as the party has no future. TMC is embroiled in several scams in West Bengal and it looks like the party will collapse in Meghalaya. TMC MLAs Marthon Sangma and Jimmy Sangma left TMC to join NPP as they realised that no future is there in TMC,” he said.
