SHILLONG:
Chief Minister Conrad Sangma on January 12 termed Meghalaya Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Mukul Sangma’s decision to contest from two seats as a “risk” the latter is taking at the expense of his parent constituency – Ampati.
“He (Mukul) is risking himself by diverting his energy to two areas – so it’s not going to be so simple,” Sangma said while speaking to the media on the sidelines of the National People’s Party (NPP) general election meeting at Polo Ground on Thursday.
It may be mentioned that Mukul Sangma will be contesting from his current seat – Songsak, as well as from Tikrikilla, and he has termed the move as a “political strategy”.
Calling Mukul’s decision to leave Ampati to contest from Tikrikilla as “unfortunate”, Sangma said, “It is unfortunate that he left Ampati and the people who made him what he was… I don’t know what he has in mind. It is his personal choice.”
When asked whether Mukul’s move was an attempt to deny NPP the Tikrikilla seat, the chief minister said, “It depends on how one looks at it. Will it hamper NPP’s performance in that seat? No. I look at it as a risk that he (Mukul) is willing to take.”
Asked what prompted him to stick to one candidate, one constituency, Sangma said, “I am committed to the people of South Tura. I am not a person who jumps around; I believe in stability and I strongly believe that the people of South Tura will repose their faith in my candidature.”