TURA:
Bajengdoba: National People’s Party (NPP) national president and Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma, on February 2, questioned Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Mukul Sangma’s decision to contest from both Songsak and Tikrikilla saying that the move will get people to ‘see through him’.
Addressing an election rally at Bajengdoba in North Garo Hills to welcome Silman K Sangma, son of former Chief Minister SC Marak, with his supporters, the chief minister came down heavily on Mukul for taking the people of Garo Hills for granted.
“During a campaign at Tikrikilla today, I asked the public about Mukul contesting there as well as Songsak. They want to question him about shifting from Ampati to Songsak and now to Tikrikilla. What confidence can he prove? Will he resign Songsak or Tikrikilla if he was to win both? People are seeing through him,” Conrad said.
He further said that people are seeing through the gimmicks of Mukul and the West Bengal-based party, which is why people are leaving TMC to join the NPP.
“The number of people from other parties coming into the NPP-fold is a testament of what the results of the February 27 elections indicate. People believe in NPP as it is steadfast. Congress has been weakened and lost grounds due to splits and factions. People of the state are looking for a stable and strong party that can deliver in governance and all eyes are on the NPP,” said the chief minister.
He also stated that when NPP formed the government in 2018, he became not only the chief minister for NPP but the chief minister for every citizen.
“Look at Chokpot. Its MLA was from Congress, who switched to TMC. Many times, the government in power tends to neglect opposition areas, but our government did the opposite. Rs 35 crore was sanctioned for Baromile to Chokpot road because a good road is critical for the development of any place,” he said.
He also talked about Focus and Focus Plus schemes for which Rs 450 crore has been spent for financial empowerment of households. He said 6.5 lakh households have benefited from the schemes, whereas the number of Self Help Groups (SHGs) in the state has gone up from just 4000 in 2018 to 40,000 as of date.
Conrad said his party would sweep through Garo Hills because it is a stable and strong party that can deliver in governance.
“TMC WE cards are mere election promises, don’t get swayed by these empty promises,” he warned.
Stating that the “winds of change have arrived” Conrad said NPP will sweep through North and South West Garo Hills including Ampati and Tikrikilla this election. “We will sweep South West Garo Hills including Ampati,” the chief minister said with confidence.
Deputy Speaker and senior NPP leader Timothy D Shira said no one can work with Mukul. “In this election, Mukul wanted everything for himself while he was with the Congress, so when (Vincent) Pala was appointed president, he realised he can no longer play with the party so he joined TMC. TMC will not win a single seat in Khasi Hills…In Shillong, their candidate ran away and decided to contest as an independent after realising TMC was unwelcome among the people,” Shira said.
Seeking support for NPP candidate Pongseng Marak, Timothy said with Conrad Sangma as the chief minister, North Garo Hills has received numerous projects for development such as Rs 2.69 crore from ADB for schools and education infrastructure, Rs 80 crore for roads renovation in North Garo Hills, repair of 39 kms of damaged road in the Damra region bordering Assam is underway, and the Damring Bridge worth crores of rupees is coming up to stop the flood situation.
Slamming TMC and Mukul for only finding fault with the present government, Timothy reminded the TMC leader about the German technology road that he spoke highly of but did not last even 2 years. “As for the Ganol project, Mukul spent Rs 500 crore but failed to complete it. Conrad completed it with Rs 300 crore,” he said.
He also accused Mukul of betraying PA Sangma, the man who brought him into politics.
He further accused the TMC leader of indulging in corruption ever since he was the Power minister in 2009. “How did he make his money when he was Power minister in 2009? He floated tenders to dam rivers and hydel projects. Companies paid crores to get the tender but where are the projects?,” he questioned.
Listing out the expensive properties owned by Mukul, Timothy said the TMC leader had purchased coal worth crores of rupees at Kallu Rengdim in West Khasi Hills, purchased land worth over Rs 50 lakhs in Mendi, has a house in Shillong worth crores of rupees among other things. “Mukul doesn’t eat in lakhs but crores,” he claimed.
He also accused the party of bringing people from outside to run their election campaign as there were no takers among the local people.