Union Minister Oram campaigns for Conrad

FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT

SHILLONG, May 11: Union Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram campaigned for tiol People’s Party (NPP) candidate Conrad K Sangma on Wednesday.

Addressing an election rally in Gokul near Bajengdoba in North Garo Hills, Oram said that Congress party is trying to put the citizens of the Garo hills under a spell by falsely accusing the BJP.

The Union Tribal Affairs Minister also alleged that the Congress is resorting to money power to win the election.

“The idea of the Congress party is only to try and create confusion as they have nothing to talk about,” he said.

During its poll campaigns, the Congress hinted at an understanding between NPP and BJP.

The Returning Officer for the Tura Lok Sabha by-poll, Pravin Bakshi, on receipt of a written complaint from the state unit of the BJP, lodged a complaint with the police.

The state BJP alleged that during an election campaign on May 2, Congress candidate Dikkanchi D Shira violated the model code of conduct.

There were reports that during an election rally Shira had allegedly said that the NPP and BJP have an agreement for five years in which they would leave Tura for NPP but NPP would be working on the BJP agenda.

Speaking in Hindi, Oram also referred to Late Purno Agitok Sangma as his mentor when he was first elected to Parliament.

Oram also likened Conrad to his father at the election rally. Seeking votes in favour of the NPP candidate, Oram said, “In the Parliament he (Conrad) will be the voice of Garo Hills to ensure that the region develops.”

At the election rally, Oram also spelt out the vision of Prime Minister, rendra Modi for the northeastern region.

“The NDA government under the leadership of Modiji has a vision for the region,” Oram said.

Meanwhile, lin Kohli, BJP in-charge, Meghalaya said that the BJP wants Conrad to sit in the parliament and want him to articulate the problems of the region.

Moreover, the NPP candidate expressed gratitude to Prime Minister rendra Modi for having allotted Rs 200 crore to the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC).