As of now will contest from South Tura only’: M’laya CM Sangma ahead of Assembly Polls
First Published: 2nd December, 2022 20:25 IST
Exit of 2 MLAs from NPP is no setback, ready with strong candidates to replace who left, says CM Sangma trying to downplay the exits
Amid speculations that Meghalaya Chief Minister and NPP chief, Conrad Sangma could be contesting the upcoming Assembly elections from two constituencies, the CM said on Friday that for now he has decided to contest from his present constituency of South Tura only.
“Not at all. I will not be contesting from two constituencies. As of now I am only contesting from South Tura. I am very clear on that. I have full faith on my constituency. I have worked very hard on my constituency and I have built it up. So there is no question of me leaving my constituency,” CM Sangma said responding to reporters’ questions.
“In terms of contesting from another constituency, I have not decided on that yet. The party also has not decided yet. We will see the situation how it unfolds but as I have said, my primary constituency is South Tura. As of now I intend to contest from South Tura,” he added indicating his decision might change and he might end up contesting from two constituencies.
On the recent development of two sitting NPP MLAs – Benedic R Marak and Ferlin CA Sangma quiting the party and announcing their plans to join BJP, CM Sangma said studies done by the party had already shown that some of the incumbent MLAs were not doing well and were no longer strong in their constituencies and the party knew about the exit plans months ago.
“In both these MLAs’ cases we have been discussing. This was a very conscious decision that was taken by them and this was also after a detailed study that the party has done at its own level in regards to the current positions in the constituencies and based on that it was kind of mutual that they decided to go to another political party. I wish them the very best.”
CM Sangma further said that the MLAs exit was in no way a setback for his party and the party is already ready with strong candidates for Selsella and Raksamgre. “As I said, these and few other constituencies where we have done our assessment, we have found that the positions are not strong of certain incumbent MLAs and therefore we had discussions and then those MLAs decided to leave. We already have other candidates who have been working hard there”.
The political scene in Meghalaya is heating up ahead of the Assembly polls early next year. The term of the current Assembly (60 seats) is scheduled to end on March 15, 2023.
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