SHILLONG:
As Meghalaya prepares for the 2023 Assembly election, Congress chief Vincent H Pala on December 29 made an appeal to the citizens of the state to give his party a chance to lead the government in 2023.
While accusing the National People’s Party (NPP)-led Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) government of failing on all fronts, the MP said that it is high time to make a change and the Congress is the only alternative for the people of Meghalaya.
“We appeal to the people of Meghalaya, to give us a chance (in 2023). We need absolute majority to ensure stability so that we can protect our people, be it in the border or to the Christians, be it law and order…,” Pala told reporters.
“Congress this time, is a Congress for change. We have new faces and we have all the expertise (for addressing the various issues confronting the state and its people),” he said.
Pala also slammed the present government for its failure to provide adequate electricity supply to the people of the state.
“Actually the generation is almost 120 crore units in a year whereas 180 crore units is required, so there is a shortage of almost 60 crore units in a year. That will cost the government very heavily with each unit costing now almost Rs 6. Therefore, we will focus mainly on this, on how to minimise the cost and the burden on the state of Meghalaya,” he said.
Stating that the party is committed to improving the health services in the state, the MPCC chief said, “…somebody told me that more than 160 batches of medicines which cost more than Rs 1.5 crore have got shelf-life of only 20 per cent.”
In terms of unemployment, he said, “Normally there is no system in such a way where the youth will have a platform to know the demand and supply. For example, I pass my M.Com so who will employ me. So we need to have a system and a platform.”
He further assured that the party would also come up with a state university to ensure students do not have any problem in getting admission in the university.
“(The party will also look into) farmer’s welfare as it is a big issue as almost 70-80 per cent of our people are farmers in our state,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Congress chief said that the party is not keen on having any pre-poll alliance with any political party ahead of the 2023 elections.
“We are planning to have 60 candidates and we don’t plan to have any pre-poll alliance with any political party…I am confident that the people this time will give us their mandate,” he asserted.