Our Special Correspondent
TURA:
This week’s sabre-rattling by a Congress elected legislator-turned-Trinamool defector issuing a doomsday message to NPP chief and state Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma about impending defeat in his bastion of Tura appears to be in response to the workers of the ruling party that are keen to see their chief contest and win from two separate constituencies, in a similar fashion as current opposition leader Mukul Sangma, who won the 2018 polls from Songsak and Ampati.
Party sources in the NPP told The Meghalayan that grassroot workers are keen to ‘host’ their leader and chief minister from more than one constituency-existing South Tura–, but the national president has not given any indication to do so.
One of the constituencies suggested by NPP supporters was Chokpot in South Garo Hills which is currently held by AITC MLA Lazarus Sangma.
The Trinamool legislator, Lazarus Sangma, had only a few days back issued a statement lashing out at the NPP claiming that the chief minister is shaky on his home turf of South Tura and could lose that seat.
NPP insiders believe that statement was in response to a move by a section of the ruling party workers to demand their chief contest from two different seats.
“It is evident he (Lazarus) has been shaken by news that the chief minister is being pursued to contest from Chokpot, but as things stand today, there is no such move,” claimed a party leader from Garo Hills privy to the political moves taking place.
While the NPP denies any such move, yet, it is a known fact that Chokpot does not have any standing leader of the party nor a representation.
The last NCP turned NPP leader from Chokpot was Late Masonsing Sangma, a former industries minister, whose demise led to his widow joining the Congress after she was overlooked for the bypoll.
Also, the NPP has a tie-up with the regional Garo National Council party of late Clifford Marak, himself a former Chokpot MLA. Chokpot has for long been the bastion of the GNC but success at the assembly polls has eluded the regional party after the death of sitting legislator Clifford Marak.
Only in last year’s GHADC elections did the GNC taste success in the Chokpot-Sibbari region with former student leader Nikman Ch Marak who became the lone party MDC representing Rongrikkimgre constituency in the district council and now holds the deputy CEM position.
However, another GHADC constituency-Silkigre– which is also part of Chokpot assembly segment has been usurped by the NPP in last year’s council polls, which perhaps gives an indication as to why a section of NPP party workers smell blood and are keen to join the upcoming contest.