Shillong, Sept 11: The Opposition National People’s Party (NPP) on Monday claimed that it would play a big role towards bringing a change in the state assembly elections to be held early next year.
“There is going to be a change in Meghalaya and NPP is going to play a very important and big role in that change,” NPP spokesperson, James K Sangma told reporters here.
He claimed that in Meghalaya, the writing was very clear on the wall that the ruling Congress is facing very strong anti-incumbency in view of the fact that they have failed to perform and deliver.
Earlier, reports have indicated that as many as seven sitting legislators which include those from the ruling Congress party will be joining the NPP for seeking re-election from the party.
Asked on this, Sangma, who is also a sitting legislator of the party, said that the party has maintained that its doors are open to anybody be a political leader be an activist who has best interest of the nation, of the state, of its people in mind.
“We don’t want to put a figure to it (MLAs joining the party) right now but we welcome all people who have the best interest of the nation and its people in mind. Many people have approach us and we are very keen in having them join the party,” he added.
The spokesperson also refused to accept the notion that welcoming sitting MLAs from other parties is like pouring old wine into a new bottle and said that these are disgruntle leaders who was never given the chance to deliver because of the dictatorial attitude of the incumbent chief minister Mukul Sangma.
On whether the party has decided as to who will be its chief ministerial candidate, Sangma however said the matter may depend on the MLAs who will be elected after the elections or with the state election committee as to whether the party will go with a chief ministerial face before the elections or after.
At the moment, he said that the party is in the process of constituting the state election committee which will discuss on the matter related to the candidates and then prepare the party to fight the upcoming polls.
On the allegation that the chief minister will be contesting from two constituencies – Ampati and Songsak, the NPP legislator however said that the CM can contest from the two seats but it would really be unfair to the people of these constituencies.
“Hypothetically speaking, if he (Mukul) wins from both the seats it is unfair to take the people for a ride as he has to resign from one constituency while the other will have to go for bye-elections – this is a mockery to democracy,” he said.
On the other hand, Sangma said that the move reflects the chief minister’s feeling of insecurity lest he may lose in the upcoming elections. “It’s like an insurance scheme if he fails in one, he will win in the other (seat) but eventually he will fail in both the seats,” he said.
Referring to reports of NPP leaders and supporters joining the Congress in Williamnagar, Sangma said that such allegations are political gimmick.
“You have Deborah Marak, a cabinet minister, making an irresponsible statement that Marcus Marak and Joanathan Sangma have joined her and supporting her but I think as leaders, it is important to verify the fact and then come up with any kind of statement,” he said.
He said the minister again backtrack saying that it was not Marcus and Joanathan its just their followers. “Whether Marcus and Joanathan and 500 others, going by the way she flip flops and backtracking her statement there is very less truth in that… it’s just political gimmickry,” he added.