Lok Sabha elections battle heats up
By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Jan 10: No sooner did the Congress reminisced about its ‘glory’ than the NPP gave the Congress, what may be called, a reality check; calling the grand-old party “history” and itself the “future”. This comes amidst the beckoning of the Lok Sabha elections.
NPP leader Rakkam Sangma, on Wednesday, stated the Congress and its glorious past is history that can be read about, but the NPP is the future of the state.
In connection with MP polls, Sangma asserted that the candidate for Shillong Lok Sabha seat in the form of Cabinet Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh is the best that the party has offered.
Sangma’s reaction comes after Congress recalled its past deeds and contributions made in the state as one of the major factor for the people to propel them to victory in the polls.
Stating that sometimes documents do not prove the efficiency but talent does, he said, “In my constituency, in the last five years, I have constructed a very good road in one of the villages. But in the last elections, the people of that particular village did not vote for me. Thus, in politics, people don’t discuss about what he/she did or not. Today’s voters decide on the need of the hour”.
“During the time of Congress, the country got independence where is Congress now? Meghalaya attained statehood during APHLC time but where are they (APHLC) now. It is not just about the party, it is about the individual,” he added.
Taking a jibe at the Congress, he said, “History is to read, not to implement. I am the grand nephew of Captain Williamson Sangma, and if I just say that and ask people to vote for me, will they vote?”
“What Congress has done in the past is history. Let us read in the books and people want the future and present. Now, people of Shillong and the country should decide who can deliver the best,” he added.
Claiming that over 20,000 plus students graduate every year, out of which only 2,000 get absorbed in the government sector and the rest remain unemployed, he said the unemployed educated youth and students should understand which party and individual can create jobs.
“Congress is history, and the NPP will be in the future for the young people of the state. The youth are smart enough to think who will give them the security for the state,” he added.
Talking about the Lok Sabha elections, particularly the Shillong parliamentarian seat, Sangma said, “We have given you the best candidate, and it is the voters of the Shillong seat who have to decide who they wish to send to Delhi”.
“I don’t see any reason for the NPP not winning the Lok Sabha elections in both the seats,” he added.
NPP’s working president, Marcuise Marak on other hand, made no bones as he stated that the Congress will not return to power, adding that there is no leadership in the grand-old party.
“Based on what they are hoping of a comeback at the Centre, there is no chance for the Congress and they have no leadership to convince the nation,” said Marak.
He added: “They don’t have that kind of charismatic leadership to be able to lead the nation in the right direction”.
Talking about the Bharat Jodo Nyaya Yatra and Rahul Gandhi’s visit to the Northeast to unify the party, he said, “I think they are projecting the wrong person for the leadership as nobody relies on his (Rahul) leadership. During his leadership, the Congress went down”.