SHILLONG, MAR 19: NPP national general secretary and deputy chief minister Sniawbhalang Dhar on Monday expressed confidence that the party will win from the Shillong parliamentary seat in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections to be held on April 19.
“We don’t doubt that we will win the election,” Dhar told reporters.
Stating that NPP’s vote share has increased tremendously, he said, “The vote share of the NPP has increased to 3.17 lakh in 2023. It has further increased with the merging of the two PDF MLAs – Banteidor Lyngdoh and Gavin Mylliem – and recent joining of Carnes Sohshang and Batskhem Ryntathiang.”
Informing that former MDC Rona Khymdeit will also join the NPP on March 22, Dhar said that the party’s vote share is increasing by another one lakh.
On Congress Shillong MP Vincent H Pala’s allegation that the fielding of two women candidates by the NPP is not at all women empowerment but rather it is a no option, the NPP leader however said the party is fielding a cabinet minister as its candidate because she will give a good fight to Pala.
“So do you think we have a dearth of candidates? We have a good candidate to fight against him. That is why we have discussed and taken the right decision. That is why we pick Ampareen as she will definitely win the election,” he said.
Further, Dhar also highlighted the various developments during the last six years under the MDA government.
“The people of Meghalaya have witnessed that it is only MDA government 1 and 2 which has really taken up the issue to come up with a new city. We have called tenders. You also see road sectors, not less than Rs 10,000 crore have been invested in the last 6 years. When we took over the government, there were hardly a few thousand households with water tap connections but now over 3 lakh have been connected with functional water taps. Also, not less than 2000 or 3000 kms new roads have been constructed. Recently, the cabinet has also decided to electrify unelectrified villages. MDA has ensured promotion of the tourism industry. The government is providing artificial turf in almost all the districts of the state,” he said.
The deputy chief minister said had it not been because of the government’s performance, the NPP would not have got 26 seats in the 2023 Assembly elections.
“If in 2018, we won 19 seats and in 2023 it increased to 26 seats. I think this is because of the performance of the government. I know we cannot please everybody but as a government we are working hard to bring development especially when it comes to youth,” he said.
“No government is perfect. When we took over our budget was only Rs 9000 crore and today it is Rs 27,000 crore. Also, had it not been for the MDA government, Crowborough would have become just a haunted house. It is during MDA time we got two five star hotels. Still more hotels will be set up as tourists flow has increased,” he further added.
