SHILLONG:
National People’s Party (NPP) candidate and national vice-president of the party Prestone Tynsong is confident of crossing the magic number and said that he does not believe in a hung verdict.
Speaking to reporters after filing his nomination at the office of the Deputy Commissioner East Khasi Hills, he said, “We have seen the mass movement that has taken place. On March 2, we will cross the required number and we will run the government on our own.”
Commenting on a query on the Khasi community’s desire to have a Khasi chief minister, Tynsong said that the party is fighting in unison to cross the 32-33 seats and then the newly elected members will sit to elect a leader.
Asked if he will stake claim to the chief minister’s post, Tynsong replied, “Let us first cross the bridge.”
The deputy chief minister also replied to a query of him not filing his nomination at Pynursla Civil Sub-Division, to which he said it will be shifted once the mini secretariat is completed.
On the other hand, Tynsong said the government was able to serve the state for hardly three years as it was busy fighting Covid pandemic.
Speaking about the manifesto, he said the demand for Inner Line Permit (ILP) is a part of the manifesto and will be pursued by the NPP along with other demands such as inclusion of Khasi and Garo languages.
Commenting on Trinamool Congress candidate and former chief minister Mukul Sangma’s decision to contest from both Songsak and Tikrikilla, Tynsong said it is unfair on Sangma’s part to do so.
“My personal opinion is he (Mukul) has done that in the last term. If he continues to do the same, I am very sure both the constituencies will no longer have faith in him,” he said.
“If one can serve two constituencies and if the Constitution allows you to do so, then I too can also contest two-three seats. But, if you contest for both the constituencies and have to leave one for the other, I think it is very unfair. So my principle and my opinion is that I do not agree or accept contesting two or three or more constituencies at a time,” he added.
It was in the 2018 Assembly polls that Sangma won from two seats – Ampati and Songsak. He later resigned from Ampati to make way for his daughter Miani D Shira, who won the by-election on a Congress ticket.
No Ranikor candidate
The NPP has decided not to field any candidate for Ranikor constituency following the sudden exit of its candidate MM Danggo, who crossed over to BJP.