TURA:
Opposition Trinamool Congress claims its “success” story of financial empowerment of women in Bengal can be replicated in Meghalaya if voted to power in the state as the party began its next phase of campaigning in the Garo Hills, particularly Tura, by shifting to locality meetings to try and connect with the masses.
On January 16, the party brought in its heavyweight leader and Rajya Sabha MP Derek O’Brien, someone who has taken on the BJP in Parliament in debates concerning the welfare issues of the country. Derek attended a well-attended meeting of the All India Trinamool Congress at Modynagar locality’s Skorimrum bridge that is part of Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma’s South Tura constituency.
Garnering support for TMC candidate Richard Marak, the Rajya Sabha MP interacted with the local population but kept his public address for another day as state in-charge of AITC Manas R Bhunia sought to punctured holes in the ruling NPP-led MDA’s governance in the state.
“It’s too early for me to say anything, I have just arrived in the Garo Hills but shall be visiting the region extensively and shall interact with the public and the media soon,” said Derek O’Brien to The Meghalayan at the locality event.
Compensating for O’Brien was Manas Bhunia who spoke at length about the Rs 1000 monthly financial assistance to women in Bengal that he claimed has been transforming lives across that state.
“In Bengal we have launched the programme long back. Women, particularly tribal and scheduled caste women, are getting thousand rupees per month. We have also made a promise to the people of Meghalaya that if we are voted to power and form the government we will extend this economic support to each individual woman in the state,” claimed Bhunia.
To buttress his point further, he mentioned about the large number of women who have registered for the scheme through the WE Card (Women Empowerment) saying that over three lakh individuals have already penned their names to it.
Trinamool supremo and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who is scheduled to hold a mega rally at Mendipathar in North Garo Hills on January 18, is expected to speak at length on the various social and welfare schemes of the party in that state which they hope to emulate in Meghalaya, if voted to power.
The AITC is expecting nothing short of over half a lakh supporter to assemble at Mendipathar for their big day on January 18.
The last time Garo Hills witnessed a sea of supporters for a political campaign was in Phulbari in 2018 when Prime minister Narendra Modi descended in the plains belt to garner support for BJP candidates. Though the turnout was by far one of the biggest in recent memory, yet it failed to translate to votes. The BJP lost all the seats it contested in the entire Garo Hills region. It came nearest to snatching victory only in South Tura when its then candidate Billykid A Sangma rattled NPP candidate and current MP Agatha K Sangma by leading in the first couple of rounds of counting before finally settling for second spot.