Shillong, Oct 15: Leader of opposition, Dr Mukul Sangma on Tuesday expressed confidence that the people of Shella constituency will give Congress a chance as leaders and parties associated with the present Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) government are only indulging in “hollow promises.”

Talking to media persons, Sangma said, the upcoming bye election on October 21 is an opportunity for the electorates of Shella constituency to make a new beginning.

“To make a new beginning, it is not for a day or a year, it is usually keeping in mind what we can do collectively for the larger good of the people in the years to come,” he said.

Sangma said, the bond of relationship and efforts that the Congress tried to build with the people of Shella is not only for this bye election but it is with an intention that given a chance, the party will collectively take care of the constituency.

“I have interacted with many people and I think they believe us and trust us because we have a brand – what we promise, we deliver. We don’t just promise something which we don’t deliver or rather we don’t engage in hollow promises,” he said.

The former chief minister however alleged that leaders and parties associated with the MDA government are indulging in making hollow promises to the people.

“It is time for people to say enough is enough and we want result oriented, action oriented from people at the helm of affairs. That is the narrative in this bye election and that this is the political discourse that we are generating,” he said.

The bye-election is necessitated following the death of Shella MLA and former Assembly Speaker late Dr Donkupar Roy on July 28.

The Congress is fielding Batyngshaiñ Ryngnga while the United Democratic Party (UDP) fields Balajied Kupar Synrem. The other candidates in the fray include Nongshken MDC, Grace Mary Kharpuri (Independent), Mosjo Wanswet (PDF), Joshua Warjri (BJP) and Komen Laitmon (Independent).

On lack of development in Shella, Sangma said, “We should go by the history as records are very clear. I started my innings in 1993 and late Dr Donkupar was elected in 1988. In fact when I was posted as DMHO in Garo Hills, my posting proposal was approved by him when he was the health minister. So you can see long innings and opportunities that he got. But if you visit the constituency and look at the privileges and opportunities that he had been vested with to be able to response to the expectations and aspirations of the people, I definitely feel that people have reasons to grumble and people have reason to say that nothing has been done. I also do not disagree with the contention of the affected people, the stakeholders who are in this constituency.”

The leader of opposition further rejected the claim that Shella constituency is the stronghold of the UDP.

“If you look at the preceding elections, it was only because the voters who voted against the MLA were divided. It is not that he has a vote share of more than 50 per cent. So you can’t say that the constituency is a stronghold of a regional party. It is also not a stronghold of any political party for that matter,” Sangma said as he claimed that people who have the reason to go against the incumbent political party are more in term of percentage.

On development in Shella constituency, Sangma said that there has been a perceived feeling among the electorates that there has been no inclusive approach for development and the people but imbalance development across the constituency.

“The people are now looking at a new beginning. The new beginning should be with a party and a candidate who belongs to a team which is seen to be responsive collectively. In a democracy, we always talk about collective responsibility to fulfill the expectations and aspirations of the people. I must again reassert our commitment that whatever we commit, we do not engage in hollow promises,” he said.