SHILLONG, OCT 23: Pitching 60-year-old academician Dr DRL Nonglait as an experienced hand who can push Meghalaya’s cause in Parliament, Deputy Chief Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar on Thursday night said the Shillong byelection is about ensuring a ruling MP for the public good.
“To come and contest elections at the age of 60 is not easy but… we need such experienced people who can pull together the rope to push inside Parliament,” Dhar told a massive gathering at Mihmyntdu in Jowai constituency.
He said, “I know Dr DRL Nonglait very well… He is not yet a politician but… Around 88-90 colleges are under him. He should have retired but he is willing to lose sleep for the public.”
Making a case for a ruling party MP, he said, “We need an MP from the ruling side, if we get an MP from the opposition, when we work he will oppose and when he works we will oppose, who will suffer, you the public.”
“If you mistakenly put two bulls, one foreign bull and one Pnar bull, they may fight in the field, so we want to get a bull that will be on the same path, on the same rope,” he said.
Dhar said the NPP-led government has development projects worth Rs 20,000 crore under process in New Shillong alone under his watch as Urban Minister, and Rs 500 crore worth of projects were launched in East Jaintia in recent days, including Rs 400 crore in Santa Mary Shylla’s constituency and Rs 80 crore in Kyrmen Shylla’s.
He announced that the 166-km Lad Umroi to Ratacherra greenfield project worth Rs 21,700 crore will be implemented soon, with 80% falling in Jaintia Hills.
“I thank the people of Jaintia Hills because we are always welcoming to development,” he said, adding that the presentation shown was only a glimpse of West Jaintia Hills.
The rally was attended by Health Minister and Jowai MLA Wailadmiki Shylla and other MLAs, MDCs and party workers.
