Sir,
Apropos of the news “Timothy Shira math sees NPP as single largest party in 2023” in The Meghalayan on June 9, 2022, I find the math of the Deputy Speaker to be rational and sensible; he has rightly claimed that neither the All India Trinamool Congress nor the Congress party will be voted to power and that Dr Mukul Sangma “will have to be satisfied sitting in the opposition again. There is no way out”. This statement compared with the history of 28.72 years of Congress chief ministership in Meghalaya is an indication that Dr Mukul’s dream to be chief minister of Meghalaya again is over. In the words of John Lennon “the dream is over”. He had enjoyed for seven years and 320 days as CM and now it is time for the National Peoples’ Party under the leadership of Conrad K Sangma to continue for another five years. Given the political set up in New Delhi, Meghalaya will need Sangma – Conrad K Sangma to be specific — as he shares a good rapport with the Bharatiya Janata Party leadership at every level as NPP is part of the National Democratic Alliance. Further he is the best bet when it comes to connect with powers that be in New Delhi and the advantage with Conrad is that he has the command over both the Hindi and English language which is the lingua franca of the country and the world. Our people will have to use their brains and wisdom and not emotions as to whom they will vote in 2023. We cannot go by emotions but have to do number crunching given that the NPP has 23 MLAs, 14 in Garo Hills and 9 in Khasi and Jaintia Hills, make no mistake because data suggests that this number will go up to 30+ on the day the result is declared in 2023. The NPP is visible in all the districts of Meghalaya unlike other parties. After the by-election in 2019, over all the National Peoples’ Party is now number one in Meghalaya with a vote share of 37.5 per cent and 23 seats in the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly.
VK Lyngdoh