TURA/ SHILLONG, Feb 20: The TMC is leaving no stone unturned to ensure it gains an upper hand against the double-engine chain of NPP and BJP in Meghalaya, particularly in the Garo Hills region.
Addressing an election rally in South Tura constituency in support of party candidate Richard M Marak, firebrand TMC parliamentarian Mahua Moitra sought to expose the NPP-BJP nexus in the state.
“They were all together, the BJP and NPP. Today Conrad might say ‘Amit Shah is very bad’ and then Amit Shah might say ‘Conrad Sangma is very bad’ and then, let the election get over and see how they become brothers again. Don’t fall into their trap,” she cautioned.
At another rally in Phulbari, Moitra addressed the gathering in Bengali in a clear attempt to connect with the voters in the constituency.
At the well-attended rally at Phulbari, Moitra was joined by party candidate SG Esmatur Mominin and TMC Meghalaya in-charge Manas Ranjan Bhunia. They spoke about how TMC would be able to bring much-needed development in Phulbari.
Praising the people who had come together to support TMC, Moitra said,
“TMC understands the pulse of the people. I suppose, if the constituency has 30,000 voters, then we can see one-fourth of 30,000 present in this ground today. If this is the number of people we have here, then we can say with confidence that they have come here to give their blessings to Rohibul who can bring that change…he will bring that change in Phulbari.”
She was referring to Mominin by his other name.
The TMC candidate highlighted key pointers about his achievements as an MLA and his outlined his future plans for the constituency.
“The people never thought that in Pushkurnipara Bholarbhita, there will be a bridge, but today with your blessings and with a lot of hard work, the construction of the Pushkurnipara bridge has started. I am promising that within 2 years this bridge will be completed,” Mominin said.
Earlier, TMC’s South Tura candidate, Richard M Marak, cited examples to drive home the point that the chief minister’s constituency lacked development.
Elsewhere, Opposition leader addressed a major rally at Chenanggre Stadium at Adokgre on Monday to drum up support for party candidate from Kharkutta, Cherak W Momin.
The public rally began with a moment of silence and prayers for the bereaved families of five TMC women supporters who lost their lives in a road mishap while on their way to attend the same rally.
Momin urged people to unite against the corrupt NPP-led MDA government.
“All the party leaders serving in various fields, our former MDC, and my dear friends from different areas have come here to show their support towards Meghalaya TMC. I thank everybody with all my heart. This unity shows that we are taking a concrete step together to bring the wind of change in Meghalaya.”
Sangma also interacted with the media at another rally in Mendipathar and explained the pulse of the people before the February 27 elections.
“It is time really to infuse the sense of oneness. We have tried to get the attention of both the state and the union government on the issues of alleged regularities and alleged corruption. It is the duty of any government to take cognisance of the concerns of the people, which has not been done for a very long time,” he said.
The Mendipathar rally was attended by party leaders, including TMC candidate Pardinand D Shira, Block TMC president Jappilson Momin and Block secretary Sengrak Sangma, among others.
In East Khasi Hills, TMC candidate from Sohra, Harold F Khongsit criticised the MDA government’s repeated failures in resolving the water crisis in Sohra.
“The state government’s lack of intent had aggravated the water woes of the locals. We have very serious problems over water in the Sohra constituency, particularly during the winter season. Around 40% of the people struggle due to drinking water crisis,” he said, explaining that people have to resort to buying water at exorbitant prices.
