SHILLONG, OCT 14: Opposition National People’s Party (NPP) today announced brother-in-law of axed minister Sniawbhalang Dhar, Wailad Shylla and a former Congress MDC Gilberth Sten as its candidates from Jaintia Hills region in the upcoming 2018 state assembly polls.
Welcoming the joining of the duo into its party fold at a meeting held in Jowai, the district headquarter of West Jaintia Hills District on Saturday, NPP state president WR Kharlukhi said Shylla will contest from Jowai constituency and Sten from Mookaiaw constituency.
Jowai is currently a Congress stronghold which is represented by the deputy chief minister Roytre C Laloo and Mookaiaw by parliamentary secretary and independent legislator Robinus Syngkon.
Earlier, the Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) had dissolved the block congress committee of Dhar’s Nartiang constituency after he was charged of anti-party activities against Laloo.
The Jowai Block Congress Committee had submitted a complaint against the former power minister after he was alleged of campaigning against the deputy chief minister in Jowai constituency.
However, Dhar and his brother Ngaitlang Dhar, MLA from Umroi, are among the four disgruntled Congress legislators who have conveyed their keen interest in joining the National People’s Party.
The others include former deputy chief minister Rowel Lyngdoh and former PHE minister Prestone Tynsong, who was dropped along with Dhar in a recent cabinet rejig in the Congress-led Meghalaya United Alliance (MUA-II) government.
Speaking at the meeting, Shylla, while expressed his happiness and joy for being welcomed by the NPP and assured that in the coming election, he would ensure the victory of the party in Jowai to accelerate development and growth of the region.
Accusing the Congress leader of failing to deliver, Shyllai said, “Dr Laloo has failed to deliver. The people are not in favour of him anywhere. The wind of change is visible and NPP will surely live upto the expectation of the people as a viable force to reckon and champion the cause and welfare of the people”.
Sources informed that Shylla had already started door-to-door campaigning in the constituency.
On the other hand, Sten, who recently resigned from the Congress, said that the NPP is the only alternative to give a fair battle to the ruling Congress.
“The people of Jaintia Hills are anger with Congress. They have only made claims and false promises. The party and their leaders have not done anything for the region,” he said.
Sten further expressed confidence that the NPP will not just do well in Garo Hills but as well as in Khasi and Jaintia Hills. The NPP would manage to win 15 seats as well in Khasi-Jaintia Hills region, he claimed.
The meeting was also attended by NPP leaders and functionaries from across the state including Songsak MLA Nihim D Shira and Dasakhiat Lamare, NPP candidate from Umroi Constituency.
Shira in his speech informed that the wave for NPP has gain momentum in Garo Hills and the party is expecting 15 seats from the 24 constituencies in the five district of Garo Hills.
He told the crowd that Chief Minister Dr Mukul M. Sangma is contesting from Songsak constituency in the upcoming election and the party was prepared to defeat him.
“I welcome the challenge of Chief Minister Mukul Sangma, who is contesting from Songsak. It is certain that he will loose the election in Songsak. NPP’s ground is ready and we are going to give a tough fight to Congress”, said Nihim Shira.
Meanwhile, NPP National President Conrad K. Sangma, who was unable to attend the rally welcomed Shylla and Sten in the party and expressed confidence that both the leaders would gear up campaign in Jaintia Hills and ensure that the party would pave a new era of change and development in Meghalaya.
By Our Reporter
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