SHILLONG:
NPP candidate from West Shillong Mohendro Rapsang filed his nomination for the upcoming assembly elections scheduled to be held on February 27.
Speaking to media persons, Rapsang promised to make West Shillong a smart constituency, adding that Rs 5 crore has already been sanctioned for his constituency under the smart city project.
“If I win, I will work towards improving the constituency and Rs 50 lakh will be earmarked for youth development programme because I want the youths of my constituency to be entrepreneurial,” he said.
Reacting to queries on corruption charges levelled against the NPP-led MDA government, Rapsang said, “There are no major issues. If they (the opposition) have a problem, they can go to the court and prove the allegations.”
Stating that the security and safety aspect has been taken care of in his constituency, the NPP candidate said, “This year, the election in my constituency will be a peaceful one. This is the first constituency where CCTVs are connected directly to police stations, so the issue of security is taken care of.”
Asked about the toughest opponent in this election, he replied, “Every candidate is tough for me but I will overcome all of them and I am sure NPP will win this seat and will get an absolute majority.”
Rapsang won the 2018 elections on a Congress ticket. Following the exit of Mukul Sangma and 11 others from the Congress in 2021, Rapsang, along with four other remaining Congress MLAs — Ampareen Lyngdoh, Mayralborn Syiem, Kimfa Marbaniang and PT Sawkmie, joined the MDA government, much to the dismay of the Congress high command.
The five were later suspended from Congress and it was only recently that all five of them left the grand old party to join other parties.
While Ampareen, Mohendro and Kimfa joined the NPP, Mayralborn and PT Sawkmie joined the UDP.
Mohendro Rapsang will be going up against BJP’s Ernest Mawrie, UDP’s Paul Lyngdoh, Congress’ Betheleen Dkhar and TMC’ Iwan Maria.