Rakkam Sangma predicts setback for Congress amid BJP entry
Shillong, Oct 31: The National People’s Party (NPP) leader and cabinet minister Rakkam A Sangma on Thursday expressed confidence that his party will win the upcoming Gambegre bye-election with a “record victory margin” even as he claimed that the BJP’s decision to join the fray will be a huge setback to the opposition Congress.
“NPP will come out victorious with a record margin because the people’s support (for the party) is growing more and more. They have understood because in 2023, Gambegre was in the wrong number because they don’t know who will form the government and therefore unfortunately they voted for the Congress and Saleng A Sangma was in the opposition,” Sangma told reporters.
Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma’s wife, Dr Mehtab Chandee A Sangma is the candidate of the ruling National People’s Party (NPP) and she will be fighting against five opponents which include opposition parties – Jingjang M Marak of the Indian National Congress and Sadhiarani Sangma of the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC), and Bernard N Marak of the BJP. The two independent candidates in the fray are Sengkrabirth M Marak and Jerry A Sangma.
Stating that Gambegre is getting the best opportunity, the Rongara-Siju legislator said, “They can elect an MLA, who will be very much part of the government. It is a good sign. I am hundred percent sure that madam Chandee will come out victorious,” Sangma said.
He said that the people of Gambegre will vote for the NPP for all round development of the constituency. “People of Gambegre need development and need the support of the government. They need a leader, who can connect with the government more closely. I know Gambegre people are wise enough to elect their leader.”
Further, the NPP leader said that the Congress’ wave does not exist anymore in Garo Hills and it will not have any impact on the upcoming Gambegre bye-poll.
“It was a miracle (that Saleng won as nobody expected that) and miracle will not happen again and again. You will get the ground report from Gambegre, such wave doesn’t exist anymore,” he added.
Moreover, Sangma said that the BJP’s decision to join the fray will have a huge setback on the Congress as they were working together during the MP election last time.
“They vote together for the Tura MP election. BJP and Congress vote together. This was disclosed openly by BJP MDC from Tura, who is also the candidate and contesting the BJP will have a huge setback on the Congress as they were together for MP election last time. This is not my statement but it was stated openly by Bernard himself that they had worked for Congress to make Saleng win and they had a meeting at his residence. They were friends yesterday and today they have to fight each other now,” he stated.
Referring to the inquiry report which revealed that the TMC’s allegation against the NPP for distributing roofing sheets to villagers of Gambegre was unfounded, Sangma said such allegation and accusation will happen during elections.
He said that there was also a video showing the Tura MP Saleng A Sangm, in an attempt to woo voters, was talking openly that he would give work orders from his MP scheme to each and every voter of Gambegre constituency.
