NPP thanks voters for voting against 'money power'

FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT

SHILLONG, May 21: The tiol People’s Party (NPP) has thanked the people of Garo Hills region for voting against ‘money power’ in the recently concluded Tura by election.

“In spite of money power, they (Congress) could not sway the people of Garo Hills to their side,” NPP state president WR Kharlukhi told media persons here today.

Urging the people of Khasi-Jaintia Hills region to follow suit, Kharlukhi said that if people voted for candidate who want to win polls applying money power there will not be any development.

When pointed out that the allegation that money was used during the Tura parliamentary by-poll could not be substantiated, Kharlukhi pointed out the seizure of money from a vehicle of a relative of a sitting legislator from Garo Hills.

Election officials are, however, yet to authenticate whether the money seized was meant to sway voters.

Meanwhile, commenting on the allegation of Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma of manipulating the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) in the Tura Lok Sabha by-election, Dr Kharlukhi cited the example of a football match.

“When a particular team loses, it blames the referee,” he said.

On the threat of Chief Minister that the NPP would be wiped off by the 2018 Assembly election, Kharlukhi said that the party has accepted the challenge.

“Why wait for 2018? If he wants he can dissolve this House and go for election now and try to finish the NPP in 2016 itself,” the NPP state president said.

Kharlukhi also said that if the opposition is united it can defeat the Congress in the 2018 Assembly election.