SHILLONG:
National People’s Party (NPP) spokesperson and Deputy Chief Minister, Prestone Tynsong, HAS said MLA schemes are meant for supporters of legislators.
Speaking at an election rally in Rangshken under Sohiong constituency to drum up support for NPP candidate Samlin Malngiang, on Saturday, Tynsong admitted that in Pynursla constituency which he represents, MLA schemes are distributed only to his supporters.
“Those who don’t support, I do not give… What to do? After winning the elections, the first to ask for schemes are those who do not support you. This is a scheme which we have to give to our supporters,” he said amidst applause from those present at the rally.
The NPP national vice-president was referring to the recent Right to Information findings which had revealed that around 14 individuals of Sohiong constituency did not get the MLA scheme for the year 2018-2022, although their names featured in the list.
Tynsong said that after reading the news report, he confirmed it from the Block Development Officer of Sohiong Community and Rural Development Block and found out that 8000 individuals had benefited from the Special Rural Works Programme and the 14 who did not get assistance were not Malngiang’s supporters.
He also said that this was the policy of all the 60 legislators of the state adding that United Democratic Party (UDP) president Metbah Lyngdoh was also well aware of this.
The NPP leader said that the allegations against Malngiang were political vendetta aimed to mislead the public during elections.
Encouraging the people to vote for the party, Tynsong said the NPP was leading the government and urged the gathering to vote for the NPP candidate, saying that Malngiang has eight NPP ministers and 25 departments in his command.
Meanwhile, NPP Member of District Council (MDC) from Rambrai–Jyrngam Bajop Pyngrope criticised the UDP for stating that when the results of the Sohiong polls will be announced, there will be change in the government.
Criticised the coalition partner, Pyngrope said, “We will also do that after May 13, we will make the UDP sit in the opposition.”
Malngiang also slammed the UDP for hitting out against him during their election rallies.
He said that the UDP must first part ways with the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) 2.0 and then openly criticise the NPP.
The NPP candidate also lambasted those who alleged that they did not get any MLA schemes even though their names existed in the list.
“Those who filed the RTI were paid by the UDP,” he alleged.