SHILLONG:
In the ongoing war of words among political parties as they warm up for the upcoming assembly elections, Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong on Thursday asked All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) leader and former chief minister Mukul Sangma to worry about his own survival instead of crystal-gazing about the fate of other legislators in 2023.
Speaking to media persons, Tynsong warned that there is anti-incumbency at all levels, be it for MLA or MDC, and Sangma should be concerned.
“As far as election is concerned let him (Mukul) think how he will survive because anti-incumbency happens everywhere, be it MLA or be it MDC. That will be there we know, but it depends on how you perform and work in your respective constituencies,” Tynsong said.
Tynsong’s barb came two days after Mukul had asked the ruling National People’s Party (NPP) not to expect that all the MLAs will be their “asset” since many of the sitting legislators will be defeated in the 2023 polls. Mukul was then reacting to Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma’s claim that seven AITC MLAs were keen to contest on NPP ticket.
Tynsong, however, said he is not a person who can foretell the “winnability” of the sitting legislators and other candidates as “it is up to the people to vote. I can’t say anything whether sitting MLAs will return to the assembly or not.”
“Therefore, election is election and I differ with him (Mukul) on that because he has predicted as if he knows everything,” the NPP leader said while reminding the leader of the opposition that in 2018 he had claimed he would return as chief minister, but which did not happen.
Also, on Mukul’s assertion that majority of the NPP MLAs will not contest from the party next year, the deputy chief minister requested him to furnish the names of those who are not going to contest from the party.
“I request him to kindly furnish me the names who will not remain with the NPP,” he said.