SHILLONG: Manipur Deputy Chief Minister Yumnam Joykumar Singh said on Monday NPP’s victory with a huge margin in South Tura would not only strengthen the MDA government but also send a strong message to the Centre about Conrad Sangma’s leadership in the region.
Singh, who was in South Tura to campaign for NPP, said, “Meghalaya will prosper when Khasi Hills and Garo Hills are united. This government is a mix of both the regions and I am sure that the current government will bridge the gap to ensure development.”
“Conrad Sangma’s victory with a huge margin will further strengthen the coalition government in Meghalaya. It would also send a message that the current government has control over Meghalaya and would further support the State to ensure growth and development,” said Singh at a rally at Fancy Valley locality in South Tura.
NPP youth president Ratika Yumnam was also at the rally.
Conrad, who is being projected as a “pan-North East” leader, has to win the by-poll to retain the chief minister’s chair.
The various constituents in the government power house also came together to campaign for Conrad on Monday.
Among the leaders from the MDA allies who were in Tura on the penultimate day of campaigning were UDP’s Metbah Lyngdoh, Lahkmen Rymbui and Kyrmen Shylla, and HSPDP’s Renikton Lyngdoh.
Metbah, who is also the tourism minister, said, “South Tura is a prestigious constituency in Garo Hills and it is a great opportunity for and privilege of the people here to elect the sitting chief minister of the state.”
Addressing Conrad by his nickname Babang, Metbah said his association with the Sangma family was for a long time and “we are united as one voice and would like to see that the NPP candidate is elected from South Tura constituency”.
Education Minister Rymbui seconded Metbah and reposed faith in Conrad’s leadership.
Revenue Minister Shylla, who spoke in Hindi at Fancy Valley, urged voters to break his record of highest margin. “I want South Tura to ensure that our leader Conrad K. Sangma breaks the record and win the election with the highest mandate.”
Shylla, the youngest minister in the Meghalaya Cabinet, had won the February election with a margin of 8000 plus votes.
