SHILLONG:
National People’s Party (NPP) vice president Prestone Tynsong, on May 11, said that allegation that the NPP is misusing state’s revenue to further the party’s prospects in other states is “unconstitutional”.
“Allegations that the state’s revenue has been used to ‘build’ the NPP in other Northeastern states, is wrong and unconstitutional,” said the deputy chief minister, adding that whoever floated such allegations needs to know the rules and procedures of the Constitution of India very well.
“We are being guided by the Constitution of India,” said Tynsong, reacting sharply to the allegations made by its Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) partner United Democratic Party (UDP).
The deputy chief minister also said that with the 2023 elections on the horizon, political parties may make such “baseless” allegations, but the NPP is a principle-driven party and there is question of any such misdeeds.
“We will not just talk for the sake of talking like other parties ahead of elections,” he said, sternly.
He, however, downplayed the UDP’s allegation as “slip of tongue” and refrained from terming it as “back-stabbing”. “Deep down inside I don’t think they really mean what they alleged. I won’t term it as back-stabbing either. That is why the NPP has already instructed our leaders and candidates to restrain from making allegations, not only against our MDA partners but even against political opponents. When we (NPP) talk, we talk with facts,” he said.
Claiming that the MDA is intact, the NPP leader said, “We respect each other and all the parties within the MDA. We will not allow blame games to create rift among us.”
Talking about which party will be its primary opponent in the upcoming 2023 polls, the deputy chief minister said that the fight in the elections will not be against any particular party, but will be in the constituency level.
“Electorate of Meghalaya don’t vote for parties, but individuals. The ideology of the party, its principles, all come second,” he said.