'BJP, TMC outsiders, Congress only alternative in Meghalaya'

GUWAHATI: Congress on Wednesday said the MDA government led by the National People's Party (NPP) for the last five years was a "money development alliance" for the personal gains of the leaders of the ruling coalition.
Addressing the media in Shillong, AICC media coordinator Mathew Antony, said, "Congress is the alternative and the only alternative. Congress is coming back in Meghalaya.The anti-incumbency against MDA, the money development alliance, has made the ground favourable for a Congress win. The only binding factor for all alliance partners of MDA was the monetary benefit."
He accused the ruling NPP, its ally BJP, as well as opposition TMC of illegal coal mining, a major issue in Meghalaya.
Antony said the assembly dome collapse incident and electricity meter scam of Rs 150 crore has put the government to shame.
He further said TMC being "not so vocal" against BJP shows there is a "hidden agenda of alliance".
"We gave Meghalaya statehood in 1972. We gave the sixth schedule, respecting and protecting the indigenous origin of the people of Meghalaya. The legacy of Congress is in protecting Meghalaya's interests," he said.
Another AICC media coordinator Bobbeeta Sharma lashed out at NPP president and chief minister Conrad Sangma for his remark that Meghalaya saw no development in the past 45 years.
"We want to ask the CM is he also trying to say that when his father, late Purno Sangma, was an MP in the 1970's and in I980 when he was Union minister during Indira Gandhi's time, he did not do anything for Meghalaya? When late Purno Sangma was the CM of Meghalaya between 1988 and 1990, didn't Meghalaya see any development?" Sharma asked.
She also took a dig at old friend, former CM Mukul Sangma, who is spearheading the TMC's poll campaign in Meghalaya. "He made the greatest mistake of his life by leaving Congress and joining the Trinamool Congress," Sharma said.
"TMC is not accepted in Meghalaya as it is considered a party from outside. Hence, TMC will not be successful here at all. Mukul Sangma is wasting his resources by joining an alien party," she said, adding, "Just as the BJP is considered an outsider here, so is the TMC."
Out of the 60 candidates Congress has fielded in Meghalaya, 47 are 45 years of age or below, while 10 are women.