SHILLONG, Feb 24: The issues of Pynthorumkhrah constituency remain despite one MLA –AL Hek of the BJP – representing it for five terms in a row.
Unemployment, scarcity of water and lack of proper roads are some of the issues facing the Assembly segment – called the gateway to New Shillong Township. It is cosmopolitan in nature.
Some prominent localities are Polo, Golf Club, Shyiap, Nongmensong and Mawpat. Pynthorumkhrah is famous for the majestic Shillong Golf Course, a natural marvel visited by hundreds of people every single day.
Talking about the issues, Rangbah Shnong of Mawpat Judah Wahlang said Mawpat is expanding by the day and it has issues pertaining to roads and electricity supply like most areas of Shillong. He said only one road connects the place with the New Shillong Township while the need is for 3-4 roads.
“When the New Shillong Township will be up and running, the situation there will be the same like old Shillong if we don’t build additional roads from now on,” he said, alluding to traffic congestion.
The Rangbah Shnong is allowing only the candidates – altogether eight of them – and not even their PSOs to visit the households in the area “for ensuring free and fair election”.
Hek, also a former minister, is facing a challenge from his nephew Rocky Hek who is contesting as an NPP candidate and Congress leader PN Syiem.
Samborlang Diengdoh, who campaigned under the TMC banner after the party projected him as its candidate, resigned from his party Congress one fine day and decided to contest as an independent candidate. Later, the TMC fielded Raymond Basaiawmoit in the seat.
Mayborn Lyngdoh, a teacher who is among the candidates, is drawing a lot of attention on social media.
While the candidates are doing everything possible to warm up to voters, they want the politicians to address the various problems of the constituency.
A businessman from the Golf Club area told The Shillong Times requesting anonymity that the scarcity of water is a common problem in his area. He said it also lacks grounds for sports and other recreational activities.
Claiming that people in the area do not vote on party lines, he said they are looking for a change as the MLA’s performance was not up to the mark. He felt Rocky could be a dark horse.
Kamal Sunar, a community leader from Nongmensong, said he wants more avenues to be created for the employment of youths.
“We also don’t have proper drainage system and streetlights,” Sunar said.
But he appreciated Hek for ensuring peace in the constituency all along and hoped it would continue to prevail.
A girl, who did not wish to be named, said many highly-educated youths from the constituency are jobless and they need jobs. She lauded Hek for helping students with study materials.
The candidates started their ground work well ahead of the polls. They organized football and cricket tournaments to connect with people. Hek celebrated his 25 years of tenure as an MLA by organising different kinds of events. Syiem, who is an MDC, was not far behind. He inaugurated some projects and campaigned aggressively.
In the last election, Hek had bagged 10,166 votes as against 8,748 votes by the PDF’s James Ban Basaiawmoit who finished second.
