Sangma confident of winning both LS seats

SHILLONG, MAR 20: Meghalaya chief minister Mukul Sangma said he is confident that the Congress will win both the Shillong and Tura Lok Sabha seat in the April 9-Lok Sabha elections even as he reaffirmed the government’s and party’s commitment to fight corruption and insurgency related problems.

Sangma told reporters after the Congress meeting on Thursday,  “We are confident that we will be winning from both seats. I have reasons to trust and am confident that the electorates of the state will repose their faith and confident in the party and our candidates.”

Congress is field sitting MP Vincent Pala for the Shillong seat and Daryl William Cheran Momin, grandson of the first Meghalaya chief minister late Captain Williamson A Sangma from Tura Lok Sabha seat.

Speaking of the prospects of the Congress in the North East region, Sangma said apart from Meghalaya the party is confident to win 10 seats from Assam, 2 from Manipur, 2 from Arunachal Pradesh and 1 from Manipur.

The meeting was attended by party’s ministers, legislators, MDCs, former legislators, former MDCs and party’s functionaries from the different part of the state to review the preparedness of the party for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.

Stating that the party is a seasoned organization which is based on time-tested organizational structure, Sangma said, “Congress is like a big tree which is capable of giving shade, which is capable of giving protection to people in the event of natural calamity and because it is like a strong tree really deep rooted and stable even though if big cyclone may come this tree is not uprooted…”

Sangma said that the Congress is prepared and strong as the party’s foundation is very strong based on which the party leaders and functionaries  are going to work in every blocks at grass root level. He said, “Therefore, what we need to do is that everyone should reach out to the electorates by talking about all the great and good things that the Congress has done by both the UPA at the Centre and State government.”

Stating that ensuring a ‘corruption-free-future’ is one of the top priorities of the Congress, Sangma said, “Corruption is an issue which needs to be taken head-on to ensure that future is free from corruption,” adding “It is a fact, corruption is a matter of serious concern which the Congress has responded and attended to.”

Claiming that a number of legislations including RTI have been taken up by the party toward tackling the issue of corruption, the chief minister said, “Another strong law was passed in the form of the Lokpal and Lokayukta Act which are designed to ensure that all instances of corruptions do not get repeated in the future.”

Sangma also said the Congress has also directed all Congress rule states to have a Lokayukta act in place which Meghalaya has on Wednesday passed, which demonstrates the party’s commitments and strong political will to tackle this menace.

Sangma informed that the state government is also coming up with the Social Audit Act which is in its final stage of drafting and would soon be introduced to ensure efficient and effective delivery systems.

On the law and order front arising out of militancy related problem, the chief minister said that the government is committed to deal with the law and order situation with firm hands and ensure that the future of the state will be free from unpleasant situation.

Admitting that the law and order situation is bad, the chief minister informed that successive state governments have made their best efforts on resolving the issue which finally led to signing of the tripartite ceasefire agreement with the parent organization – A’chik National Volunteers’ Council (ANVC) in 2004 to ensure peace prevail once again in the state.

Blaming the delay to reach to the final peace settlement to ‘instability’, Sangma said, “Instability has been one of the major factors instrumental for this prolong delay due to which ANVC has failed to contain and maintain its cadres who are trained to be criminals and led to mushrooming of militant outfits including Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA).”

The final text settlement with the ANVC is at its advance stage, Sangma informed adding , “We are alive with the issue and will ensure that this long pending issue will reach to its logical conclusion.”

On the non Congress parties accusing the Congress led state government failure to address the deteriorating law and order, Sangma said, “They (regional parties) are only fooling the people with their big white lies.”

Sangma stated that the Congress is fulfilling all its promises reflected in its manifesto and these will be the main points which the party will be reaching out to the electorate.

Meanwhile, giving a report on the performance of the Congress in the last five years, Sitting MP Vincent H Pala said that it is not “my report card alone” but it is because “we work together as a party.”

Pala mentioned that there have been lots of achievements and there has been tremendous change and development in Meghalaya. He pointed out that it is concerted efforts of the party that the Shillong Bye Pass and many important projects were implemented besides other developmental schemes.- By Our Reporter