SHILLONG, Aug 9: The opposition Trinamool Congress plans to take on the National People’s Party and other Meghalaya Democratic Alliance constituents in all the 60 Assembly seats.
TMC leader and former chief minister Mukul M Sangma said most of the party candidates will be new faces.
“We want to field TMC candidates in all 60 constituencies for creating that enabling environment for everyone to ensure we have a better future. When we talk about change, we should talk about being better,” he said on Tuesday.
He said they have identified candidates for most of the constituencies and the names would be announced in phases at an appropriate time.
“In the areas where we are yet to finalise the candidates, the people are awaiting our decision eagerly,” Sangma said.
“I am sure people who share our concerns keeping the prevailing political scenario in the state in mind will align with us. We look forward to seeing many joining us in our desire to build this beautiful state and ensure a safe and sustained future,” he said.
He insisted the TMC went by its commitment to choosing new faces to contest the upcoming polls and provide them with a platform for serving the people. Veteran and aspiring leaders, especially in the Khasi and Jaintia Hills, are showing a lot of interest in the party, he said.
Sangma predicted that most MLAs of the ruling NPP will give way to new faces after the 2023 state polls.
“My network and inputs give me enough reasons to believe that many of the current MLAs will not be in circulation after the elections,” he said.
Countering allegations that the TMC was trying to poach NPP legislators, Sangma said: “We don’t have to poach anybody because people are aligning with our party in every constituency.”
But he pointed out that the TMC has a strong filtering process. “Aspiring candidates go through a reality check (before they are absorbed),” he said, insisting his party has not been targeting MLAs for becoming potential candidates.
He said the Trinamool has been transparent in its approach while reaching out to everyone who would like to contribute for the larger good of the people and the state.
