A tug of war between Congress & NPP

RANIKOR SEAT

STAFF CORRESPONDENT

SHILLONG, June 11: Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong today hinted at the possibility of senior Congress leader and five times legislator from Ranikor Constituency Martin M Danggo recontesting from the constituency on Nationalist People’s Party (NPP) ticket.

“The NPP doors are always open for any senior leaders,” stated Tynsong.

The Deputy Chief Minister will be joining Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma for a public meeting scheduled in Ranikor on Tuesday. Four Ministers will accompany the Chief Minister.

Meanwhile, speculation is rife that Martin M Danggo will announce his resignation from the Congress and re-contest from the seat on NPP ticket.

“The prime concern of the sitting Congress legislator has been the upgradation of the Ranikor Block unit into a civil sub-division. However, the previous government did not accord it any importance,” stated Tynsong.

Adding that “it ended up as just the creation of some administrative unit that is not in consonance with the wishes of the people”, Tynsong made a veiled attack on the then Chief Minister Mukul Sangma for the alleged discontentment in Ranikor area of South West Khasi Hills district over the issue.

“As Chief Minister, Mukul Sangma ran the government as his own company…if he wishes it can be done if it goes against his wishes everything will be undone,” stated Tynsong who was once an ally of Mukul Sangma before deserting the Congress party and joining the NPP prior to the 2018 elections. Further lashing out at Mukul Sangma who is now the leader of the Opposition, the Deputy Chief Minister stated, “I have worked with Dr Mukul from 2003.. I know how he was and how he is.”

Tynsong’s statement can be deemed a virtual counter attack on the former Chief Minister who had criticized the present government on the latest security issue in Shillong.