By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Dec 5: The National People’s Party on Thursday said it should not be underestimated as no party that forms the Executive Council of the Autonomous District Councils (ADC) can survive without its support.
“It seems everybody is on this emotional high and I don’t know if that will blind everybody but time will tell. MDA has three more years. Don’t underestimate us. What happens in the district council elections does not matter but you cannot survive if you are not on the same page with the party that rules the government,” Cabinet Minister and MDA spokesperson, Ampareen Lyngdoh said on Thursday.
She reacted to the possibility of the Voice of the People Party sweeping the upcoming KHADC and JHADC polls.
“I reiterate that politics in India is unique as you cannot predict what will happen. I will not talk about any political party except the NPP. We are doing a good job, we have settled things that have not been done for generations and we are trying our best to be people-friendly,” she said.
“I don’t know if mantras work but every political party comes up with a new vision and new catchlines every election. I am yet to understand the catchline for the MDC elections,” Lyngdoh said. She, however, said one thing is certain. “You may have a party from the EC in the district councils but if you don’t get the blessings of the NPP, it will be difficult for you to achieve anything and that’s the way politics work,” she asserted.
“My political party continues to stay united. Come under one party, let’s look at the unification of the Northeast, which is disintegrating. We are busy fighting among our communities. Is that what we want?” she said.
“By this era, we would have decided to unify and face the government which needs to listen to us, but here divide and rule seems to be more suitable. Maybe, we are just stuck by that British Raj mindset of divide and rule,” she added.
The NPP leader declined to predict the winner of the ADC polls but said the NPP will work hard to be victorious.
She said that she sees the MDC polls as every other election laced with challenges and that the party is focused. “Our members should work hard. I hope they have positive report cards,” she said.
‘No harm in inviting people to join party fold’
Meanwhile, Cabinet Minister and NPP leader, Sniawbhalang Dhar on Thursday said that party leaders inviting others to join their fold is harmless, as the sole intention is to strengthen their respective parties. “I’m working for my party, and others are doing the same for theirs; everyone aims to fortify their own party,” Dhar explained.
When asked if he would return to the state Congress, Dhar confidently replied, “NPP is the best, in my opinion. Congress members would say the same about their party, and UDP members about theirs.”
Dhar also revealed that the NPP will likely announce its first list of candidates for the Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council (JHADC) elections within a day or two, followed by a second list before Christmas.