NPP candidate from Shillong parliamentary constituency and cabinet minister Ampareen Lyngdoh was the first to file her nomination papers for the forthcoming elections to the 18th Lok Sabha, to be held on April 19.
She was accompanied by the two deputy chief ministers – Prestone Tynsong and Sniawbhalang Dhar, cabinet minister Comingone Ymbon, KHADC chief Pyniaid Sing Syiem, MLAs – Santa Mary Shylla and Wailadmiki Shylla and hundreds of supporters from the NPP state office to the DC’s office.
Before this, the five-time legislator of East Shillong also paid a rich tribute in front of her father’s bust (L) Peter Garnette Marbaniang, who was also a former MP of Shillong, at Laitumkhrah.
Speaking to reporters, Lyngdh said, “It is an important day for us where we willingly offer our candidatures as nominated official candidates of the NPP in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.”
“I have completed my journey through 36 constituencies. I have covered over hundreds of kilometers in about 3 and a half months before. Yesterday, I was able to go to the last segments of my constituency. I feel satisfied that I am now familiar with what I need to do. I know that there is much expectation but again like we said, we are here to serve the people and I will try my best to serve to the best of my capacity,” she said.
“I am very fortunate that I have the NPP’s entire team behind me. I am happy that my family, my husband, my brothers, my sisters, my children are all by my side. We will give our best and we leave it in the hands of the people, please vote for me as the most eligible candidate from the menu of candidates that you have and I hope that in this I shall be able to enter the next chapter of my political career,” she added.
Lyngdoh said there is no anti-incumbency for the NPP as far as MP election is concerned adding that the question should be asked to the concerned person, who has been MP for the past many years.
“However, we as a political party are now way ahead in our service to the people, people of Shillong constituency are familiar with governmental plans, proposals. We have a very specific blueprint that will take Meghalaya forward and reiterate, we have no anti-incumbency in the MP elections,” she said.
Stating this is the first time that NPP is contesting the MP election from Shillong seat, Lyngdoh said, “We hope that this will give us a clean chit in the first instance. You come back for incumbency after five years and then we will talk to you about the good things that we have done.”
Asked if it would be a challenge to unseat the Congress, Lyngdoh said that she is familiar with the Congress turf and she would definitely use it to her advantage.
“We have seen that there are no permanent positions both in parties nor positions in the legislature or in the executive. I believe that having worked with a few political parties, who are fielding if not directly themselves as candidates but at least I have worked with them. I know the pulse, I know the mind and the modus operandi, I am familiar with their turfs and their support and because we come from a very close knit support system, I feel I will be advantage in this service that I will give to the people and the fight that I will place for myself in the elections. I am familiar with their turf and I will use that to my advantage,” she said.
Refusing to talk anything against the other political parties, the cabinet minister said, “I am not here to debate rivalry. Let us put this again in the right perspective. I am contesting this election on behalf of the NPP, I will not talk about my rivals nor will I consider them in a rivalry position, I will do my own thing, I will go forward and talk about the NPP’s candidature and my own candidature, I will not discuss, who spitted against us, it doesn’t really matter, I do my own thing, I gave my own proposal before the people in my candidature and to me that is sufficient.”
Further, Lyngdoh also assured to create a bridge between the people of Meghalaya and the government of India if elected as MP.
“I will liaison, I will raise issues which are left pending in the state and we believe that in our efforts to serve the people, we shall be able to put one after the other the pending issues. It is going to be a big challenge for me personally but after having won five elections in my constituency, sat in the House at the legislative assembly both in the treasury bench as well as in the opposition, I believe that I have gained and garnered adequate experience, which is unavailable in textbooks,” she said.
Meanwhile, Lyngdoh claimed to also have the support of the coalition partners in the MDA government.
“..having the backup of the chief minister and deputy chief ministers, council of cabinet members and the MDA both our NPP members as well as coalition members, I am sure together this team will be strong, they will help me and this is something MP in the past did not have. I have that as an advantage and it clearly puts me in a very comfortable position,” he asserted.
Urging the people to vote for her, Lyngdoh said, “People of Shillong parliamentary seat are well conversant with parliamentary politics by now and I feel I am blessed to be the chosen one to represent my party, woo the voters not just with words but I must supplement that with actions and I and family are mentally prepared for this. We go forward with one voice, let the voice of a woman be heard and this is going to be something very important in this election.”
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