Shillong, Apr 23: Meghalaya Chief Minister and NPP national president, Conrad K. Sangma on Monday kickstarted his campaign for NPP candidate, Marcuise Marak for the Assembly election from Williamnagar constituency slated to be held on April 27.

Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong, Deputy Speaker of Meghalaya Legislative Assembly Timothy D. Shira, CEM of GHADC Dipul Marak and a host of other party leaders and functionaries also campaigned for the NPP candidate.

Addressing the rally, Conrad stressed on the fact that NPP is committed to work for all round development of the state.

“We have formed the government with our post-poll coalition partners and we are focused to working for all regions of the state to accelerate growth and development,” he said, while stating that the opposition would try to mislead the public.

“Congress has nothing to say against us, so they will make effort to create confusion. But let me remind you that within a short span of time after the formation of the government, we were able to work to resolve some of the long pending issues concerning the welfare of the State including release of salaries for SSA teachers,” Conrad said.

He alleged that the Opposition has been trying to only propagate wrong notion against the NPP but the 2018 Assembly elections was a testimony that “we have been able to work to fulfill our commitment to the people of the State. We have a long way to move forward and this is possible if we take all sections of the society together.”

In the 2018 elections, the chief minister said, the people of Meghalaya had voted for a non-Congress government.

“Our government is doing everything possible to fulfill the aspirations of the people. A victory vote from Williamnagar will further strengthen the hands of development across the region”, he said.

The chief minister addressed four public meetings in Williamnagar constituency including Nengkra, Dawa Nengkatok, Kusimkolgre and Balsrigittim and sought people’s mandate for Marcuise Marak.

Alleging that the previous government had neglected the interest of the state and its people, the Chief Minister said, “Our engagement with the Prime Minister and other Union Ministers has been fruitful. We have been able to make our issues heard.”

Conrad told the gathering that within a week after the formation of the MDA government, pending salaries for SSA teachers were cleared.

He informed that plenty of funds meant for the state lying with the central government because the previous Meghalaya government lacked initiative to follow up on the pending schemes.

According to the Chief Minister, some of the pending schemes were connected to development of roads in the state.

The chief minister also accused the opposition of running a ‘misinformation’ campaign in the run up to the Williamnagar election by spreading false propaganda of Church attacks and beef ban.

“So many things were said in the run up to the state Assembly elections too in February this year. Attempts were made to spread fear but the people of the state saw the Opposition’s game plan. I am also a Christian and belong to the minority community. Do you think this chief minister will remain silent to any attempt aimed at disturbing the social harmony of the state?” Conrad asked.

Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong who said that unlike the previous government which was in a serious financial situation, the present MDA government could bring in needed funds within a month in office.

Deputy Speaker of Meghalaya Assembly and Resubelpara legislator, Timothy D Shira also highlighted the current government’s clearance of pending bills amounting to several crores that were not cleared for ten long years with the state Public Health Engineerig (PHE) department.