NONGSTOIN: The Dorbar Shnong of New Nongstoin organised a common platform for the four candidates of district council elections on Monday.
The four candidates — Tonington Tyrsa of UDP, LG Nongsiej of HSPDP, Gabriel Wahlang of the Congress and Apsharailang Syiem of NPP — spoke on the last day of campaigning for the council polls.
Tyrsa said he has no money power and he is contesting the election to fight for the poor.
HSPDP’s Nongsiej said as an MLA he has worked hard to ensure peace and tranquility in Nongstoin.
The party’s Mawkyrwat MLA, Renikton Lyngdoh Tongkhar, said HSPDP is the only regional party that has its manifesto to implement the ILP in the state.
The Congress, which was the third to speak, targeted BJP’s communal politics. MPCC chief Celestine Lyngdoh said the party also tried to stop CAB.
He also told that every Block in West Khasi Hills District has got the supporting scheme for women at an amount of Rs 5,000 provided by the Congress government.
Wahlang criticised the personal attacks on him and said, “Even I was poor but I have the right to stand here and fight for the poor and everyone who needs help.”
The NPP, the last party to speak, blamed the Congress for the NGT ban on coal mining. Nongstoin MLA MacMillan Byrsat said NPP did not promise to resume coal mining but it was made by the BJP. He told that under his leadership, Rs 100 crore has been sanction for developmental work in Nongstoin.
He also claimed that it was he who spoke against Wahlang who had constructed his house at Pyndengrei only to fool the public that he was a permanent resident of Nongstoin but he failed as he has married an outsider.
NPP candidate Syiem said if “we are not be careful about choosing our vote, our representatives will one day eliminate all our rights instead of protecting us”.
He said even NGOs were being used by politician to stand and oppose the NPP for demand on solving boundary dispute and in Nongstoin they are raising black flag against NPP.
