SHILLONG:
Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate from Nongthymmai David Kharsati observed that the legislative assembly is no longer a house of legislators but of businessmen.
He recalled that legislators earlier framed laws in the assembly but things took a different turn after 2003 when business tycoons entered politics.
Speaking to reporters on February 18, he said, “The assembly is not the house of legislators anymore but it is the house of big contractors and businessmen. These are the people during the election who buy votes.”
He claimed that there are people who would come to him with their voter IDs but he urged them to not sell their votes informing that an EPIC is a person’s right.
As for Nongthymmai, Kharsati said that the constituency is witnessing an electoral fight and has another eight days to go for the polling date.
Kharsati will be facingTMC’s Charles Pyngrope and former MLA from Nongthymmai and United Democratic Party (UDP) candidate Jemino Mawthoh.
Informing that he has been in the BJP for nine years, he said, “When I go here and there, people do not accept TMC… it is good for me being a candidate from BJP that Pyngrope switched over from Congress to TMC.”
On the UDP, he claimed the party is strong in few pockets.
“UDP is a good party but it is very difficult for it to take over the reins of the state’s administration,” he said.
Turning to the Covid expenditure of Rs 816 crore released by the Centre, he criticised UDP candidate from North Shillong Dr Aman War who declared that only Rs 248 crore was spent.
Kharsati questioned, “Where is the remaining money?”