BJP a 'party' in Congress, NPP slugfest
TURA BYPOLL
From Staff Correspondent
Shillong, May 7: The BJP is not in fray in the by-elections to the Tura Lok Sabha constituency, but it has been tangled in the slugfest between the Congress and the tiolist People’s Party (NPP) which are vying for the seat.
During a campaign trail in parts of East Garo Hills and West Garo Hills district, this correspondent observed that the BJP is being either used as an object of target or for defence.
The BJP is supporting NPP candidate Conrad K Sangma. In their speeches, the Congress campaigners have been hitting out hard at the BJP, from targeting the saffron party for its alleged “anti- minority” stance to projecting itself as a savior. The NPP campaigners defended its alliance with the ruling party at the Centre. It even described the allegations as a smear campaign to mislead the people on the alliance that its founding president has laid.
The campaign for the May 16 by-poll is slowly heating up, with the NPP even petitioning the returning officer against the alleged hate speeches made by the Congress campaigners. The Congress party appeared unperturbed.
As both the parties engage in a bitter battle, the voters seemed to be unfazed as they felt that the fracas will not solve their perennial problems.
“We want genuine promises. Only then we can support a candidate. What we want to see is development in the remote rural areas,” stated few elders in Williamgar town. In Dadengre town, the message of the residents is similar, with prompt answers that the people will choose the aspirant with a resolve to bring about swift development. The voters are least bothered about the mudslinging between the political parties, and their interest lies on representatives who can deliver. The young voters are also pondering whether the newly elected representative to the Lok Sabha can bail the citizens out of the chronic problem of militancy in the five Garo Hills districts.
Meanwhile, 10 additiol central para-military forces are scheduled to arrive in Garo Hills to ensure free and free polls. It has been virtually confirmed that there 410 hypersensitive polling stations and half of them are in the areas affected by insurgent activities.
