SHILLONG, Feb 19: Chief Minister and National People’s Party (NPP) president Conrad Sangma has called on voters to reject parties that are attempting to communalise the politics of Meghalaya. Campaigning for the Khasi Hills and Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC-JHADC) elections scheduled for February 21, Sangma addressed a rally at Dangar in the Mawsynram constituency, which is situated at the remote Indo-Bangladesh border.
Sangma urged the electorate to stand firm against divisive politics and send a strong message by voting out parties that are working to create rifts among the people of Meghalaya. “We have to be strong against divisive politics and vote out parties trying to create rifts and divide our people. We should reject such parties,” he said. The Chief Minister emphasized that the ADC elections present a significant opportunity for voters to make their voices heard against such forces.
The areas where Sangma campaigned are some of the most impoverished and underdeveloped in the state, with a mixed demographic due to their proximity to Bangladesh. Acknowledging the longstanding neglect faced by people living in the Indo-Bangladesh border region for over 50 years, Sangma reiterated the need for strong leadership to represent the people and ensure their constitutional rights are protected, including the rights of indigenous and minority tribes.
Touching upon the region’s underdevelopment, Sangma highlighted ongoing developmental initiatives. He pointed to the construction of the Balat-Dangar-Ryngku Road, an election promise made during the 2019 KHADC elections, which has now been fulfilled. Additionally, he spoke about the ongoing Rs 100-crore Weloi-Mawsynram Road project, funded by the World Bank, aimed at improving connectivity in the region.
Sangma also responded to opposition criticism, asserting that while the opposition parties might claim otherwise, they had failed to bring infrastructure development such as roads and bridges to the region. He reaffirmed his commitment to the development of the Indo-Bangladesh border region and assured the people that the government would continue to work towards resolving their issues.
