The partners of the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) government on Tuesday showed unity with the NPP chief and chief minister Cornad K. Sangma addressing a rally here to garner support for UDP candidate Jemino Mawthoh from Shillong Lok Sabha constituency.
Conrad, who arrived in a helicopter, addressed a few thousand people at Polo Ground here and took a dig at former chief minister Mukul Sangma. He likened the previous Congress government to a “bulldozer” while terming the MDA government a “dumper”.
The NPP is fielding former Union minister Agatha K. Sangma from the Tura seat and the UDP has put up Mawthoh from the Shillong seat. Both the seats will go to polls on April 11.
Conrad spoke at length about unity showed by political parties and leaders of the MDA saying that voters at the grassroots too should be united to ensure Mawthoh’s victory.
Besides, Mawthoh, sitting Congress MP Vincent H. Pala, BJP nominee Sanbor Shullai and Independents T.H.S. Bonney, Samuel Hashah and Romeo Phira Rani are in the fray from Shillong.
Conrad also called for unity in fighting for rights of people of the Northeast, including Meghalaya, in Delhi. He urged people to forget differences and work together to ensure Mawthoh’s victory.
Stating that the MDA government faced many challenges a year ago, Conrad said: “We stood as a team and supported each other in the government. We are all equal in the MDA government.”
Taking a jibe at former chief minister Mukul Sangma and the previous Congress government headed by him, Conrad said the previous government was the “bulldozer (JCB govt)” where nobody could say anything, but the MDA government is a “dumper government” that gives everything and treated everybody equally.
“There is discussion in the government and the chief minister did not take decisions alone, rather respects the ministers and MLAs. We do not discriminate against anybody on the basis of political colour. We are a government for all and work for all irrespective of political affiliations,” Conrad said.
Attacking national parties, including the Congress, the NPP president said there was a time when national parties got people’s support, but they did not respect the people’s sentiments.
“National parties like the Congress talked about the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, but a Congress MP from Assam supported the bill and wrote a letter congratulating the government for the bill,” he said.
Referring to the “Look East policy” — renamed as “Act East policy” — Conrad regretted that nobody followed it. “If we have to move forward, we should look and act. Just a statement on this policy will not make any difference.”
Conrad stressed that all 25 MPs of the Northeast should join hands on various issues. “When there is unity among us, Delhi is bound to listen to various issues concerning the state and the region,” he said.
Conrad said the coming together of MDA partners in supporting the UDP candidate would send a strong message about strength and unity of the state’s people, adding it would ensure that the future of the people is protected.
Mawthoh also spoke about initiatives of the MDA government and asked: “What has the Congress done except send its representative to Parliament?”
He took the name of former Lok Sabha MP from Shillong, late G.G. Swell, who according to him, had been a strong voice of the people in Parliament though he represented a regional party in those years. Mawthoh urged people to support him in this election and said, if elected, he would be the voice of people in Delhi.
The other contenders in the Shillong seat are Vincent H. Pala (Congress), Sanbor Shullai (BJP) besides Independents H.S. Bonney, Samuel Hashah and Romeo Phira Rani.
