SHILLONG:
Intensifying his campaign ahead of the Assembly Elections, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma, on February 22, campaigned for Timothy D Shira in Resubelpara and Marthon Sangma in Mendipathar, where he urged the people to come together and vote for a party that cares for Meghalaya, and remove parties who spread hatred and negativity.
Addressing the gathering at both the constituencies, the Chief Minister said that the NPP government has brought development and peace in Meghalaya during the last 5 years, and kept the interests and aspirations of the people above everything else, but the rival parties during their campaigns have been mudslinging and spreading negativity against the NPP-led MDA government.
Stressing that the NPP has gotten stronger in the last 5 years whereas all its rivals have only gotten weaker, he said, “Because of this, the NPP is securing a landslide victory in the upcoming Meghalaya Assembly polls, enabling the party to form a single-party government, making it only the second instance in the history of Meghalaya to happen; the 1st instance was in 1972 when APHLC won 32 seats.”
At Daram playground under Resubelpara constituency, Conrad urged the people to come together to vote for a party that cares for Meghalaya. “In 2018, the political scenario was different and it has drastically changed today. Most political parties in Meghalaya have weakened in the last five years, whereas NPP has emerged as a major political force in the State,” he informed.
He said Congress had inroads in the region but it has become redundant after their leaders shifted to the Trinamool Congress (TMC). “Today Congress and TMC are campaigning to popularise their parties, but going by their campaign trail, they have miserably failed,” he said.
Asking people to make a conscious decision in this election and vote for a party that has demonstrated its concerns by ensuring concerted development in the region, the NPP Chief asserted, “NPP has fulfilled the promises made in 2018 and remains committed to further initiate development and welfare. For NPP, the people’s concerns come first.”
The Chief Minister also acknowledged the efforts of new leaders, who have lent their support to NPP from other political parties.
Reiterating that NPP will form the Government, he said that in 2023 the NPP is confident of forming a single majority government.
“Our assessment from across the State is clear as people are coming out in large numbers to pledge their support to NPP. People of Garo Hills have been able to live in peace for the last five years. There has been no law-and-order situation. There was no instance of kidnapping and extortion in the region compared to previous years. People have led a peaceful life. Now, we have to consider which party can continue to ensure peace in the State and consider to vote for NPP,” he said.
He also informed that the Government of India had plans to introduce different laws that would have affected the rights of the tribal people in the schedule tribe areas, but NPP initiated dialogue to stop such laws from being implemented in the State.
“People of Garo Hills should never allow any other political party, and continue to support and strengthen NPP as people’s mandate will only ensure that NPP continues to further the interest of our people and ensure concerted development,” he added.