SHILLONG, FEB 3: National People’s Party (NPP) leader and former legislator Prestone Tynsong today expressed confidence that the party would win 31-32 seats in the upcoming Assembly polls, slated to be held in February 27.
“The party’s prospect is better as we will get absolute majority. We aim to cross the magic number as we are sure to get 31-32 seats,” Tynsong told reporters after filing his nomination papers from Pynursla constituency in East Khasi Hills, here on Saturday.
Reacting to the allegation that the NPP is weak in Garo Hills region, the three-time former senior Congress legislator said that the party will prove on the counting day (March 3) whether it is weak or strong.
On the alleged NPP-BJP nexus that is playing the rounds, Tynsong said this is because those including the ruling Congress, who are trying to misled the people of the state are “scared” of the NPP’s wave.
“It (NPP-BJP nexus) is just an election issue but I am sure that the people of the state are in favour of the NPP,” he said while informing that the party has already started its campaigns where people are told not to believe that “NPP is the team-B of the BJP”.
On the other hand, Tynsong however maintained that the question of understanding between the BJP and the NPP, which is also an NDA-ally at the centre, does not arise in view of the fact that both the parties are fighting each other in the upcoming Assembly polls.
“Where is the question of understanding or having nexus when the BJP is putting up candidates against the NPP including against me from Pynursla,” he said while pointing out that the candidate of the BJP from Pynursla is Banteilang Rumnong.
Reffering to the NPP state president WR Kharlukhi’s statement that the party had earlier worked with the Congress-led UPA at the Centre, the former legislator however said, “As of now (question of working with the Congress) does not arise because we will confirm that we will cross the bridge. But if we can’t then only we will sit and discuss accordingly.”
With regards to the chief ministerial candidate of the party, Tynsong said that the issue cannot be officially declared as of today because it is for the elected MLAs who will unanimously take a call as to who from among them will be the leader.
Asked earlier the NPP’s arrangement was that the CM’s post will go to the region which wins maximum number of seats, the party leader however maintained there is no question of such arrangement because the matter will depend on the MLAs’ decision.
Meanwhile, the former senior Congress leader also rubbished the recent claims made by the Congress president Rahul Gandhi that NPP is not a threat to the Congress because anti-incumbency factor against those legislators who left the party.
Tynsong, who is one among the seven sitting legislators who quit the Congress and joined other political parties, recalled that he had met the Congress president so many times and expressed that the present leadership under Mukul Sangma is not upto the mark.
“But he (Rahul) did not do anything and therefore ultimately we have to leave the party so the question of anti-incumbency does not arise,” he said.
On his achievements as a sitting legislator, Tynsong however claimed that he need not outlined his contributions as the voters of the constituency are wise enough to decide on this matter.
Whether he does not considered newly created Civil Sub-division in Pynursla, Tynsong, who had praised the chief minister Mukul Sangma to be a “true leader” during the inauguration of the new civil sub-division last year, however said not only the civil sub-division but all developmental activities during the last five years.
Apart from Tynsong, the other NPP candidates who filed their nominations today included former UDP legislator Remington Pyngrope from Mawkynrew constituency, two sitting MDCs – HS Shylla from Nongkrem and Pyniaid Sing Syiem from Mawryngkneng – and Ehkupar Nongrum from Nongthymmai constituency.
By Our Reporter
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