Shillong, Feb 18: National People’s Party (NPP) state president and deputy chief minister Prestone Tynsong has assured to provide better road infrastructure to many villages under Sohra constituency for promotion of tourism, which will be a big boon to the people of the region.
Addressing an election campaign to garner support for former MDC Donevan Wanlang at Khrang, Sohra on Tuesday, Tynsong said, “I urge the people of the constituency to take a united stand to vote for Wanlang so that it will further strengthen the sitting MLA Gavin M Mylliem, it will strengthen me as deputy chief minister and also it will strengthen the chief minister to bring more development to the area.”
“We assure that we will construct roads for many villages, which are yet to have better road connectivity. Therefore, if you make him (Wanlang) win, it will be easier for me to work,” he added.
Also informing that the government would soon construct a bridge over a river to connecting Kongthong village with Khadarshnong and Wahkhen, Tynsong said, “We have already sanctioned the funds and construction will start very soon and once completed, tourists can walk to Wahkhen.”
He asserted the need for vehicles to be able to ply from Swer and Wahkhen to Pomlum and Khadarshnong and said, “I have asked the sordar shnong, raid Wahkhen and Khararshnong to find land (for implementation of the project).”
“Therefore, it is important to elect an MDC and MLA from the same party so that they work together with the government for the development of the constituency,” Tynsong said while urging the people not to get swayed by misleading allegations that NPP is a Garo party.
“In fact, it is not (a Garo party because) I am the state president and Conrad K Sangma is chief minister and national president. Please do not believe such allegations.
Speaking during the meeting, Wanlang said that he was an MDC of the Congress from 2014 to 2019 and in 2018 had unsuccessfully contested against the sitting MLA Gavin M Mylliem. “However, after seeing how the MLA is working so hard for the development of the constituency, I decided to resign from Congress to support him in 2023.”
Urging the people to support him in the upcoming KHADC polls, the former MDC said,“after defeating the sitting MDC of Sohra Titosstarwell Chyne of the UDP by a margin of 1500 votes in 2014 as an MDC I faced a lot of difficulties as there was no understanding between me and him as the former MLA of Sohra.”
“I was EM in-charge of Land and in 2016 there was no proper boundary and I had issued an order as per council’s rules to provide free registration to people, who are from border areas. The idea was if people have documents it would be easier for Meghalaya to strengthen its claim over disputed lands with Assam.”
Stating that the Sixth Schedule is more powerful than Article 371, Wanlang said, “It is a big blessing that we in Meghalaya have the three autonomous district councils (ADCs) as per provisions of the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution of India for protecting of our rich culture and tradition but sadly there are a certain political parties who are demanding Article 371. Article 371 is weaker compared to the Sixth Schedule. Other states in the NE which are covered under Article 371 is Nagaland and in the recently held MP elections, certain villages are boycotting the election for demanding Sixth Schedule and not Article 371 because they have seen that the Sixth Schedule is very powerful.”
“The NPP’s agenda is also to protect the tribal communities. In the past seven years, the NPP-led government has been able to take bold decisions on border issues, it has also been able to bring development to the state, therefore, I request you to vote for me and our party,” he added.
