TURA (WEST GARO HILLS): The ruling National People's Party and BJP are facing a tough fight from Trinamool Congress in the Garo Hills, which is going to play a determining role in the upcoming assembly election. Incumbent chief minister and NPP chief Conrad Sangma and former chief minister Mukul Sangma are in the battleground in the high-voltage election from the Garo Hills region.
Garo Hills has 24 seats in 60-member Meghalaya assembly.
A traditional vote bank of Congress, both NPP and Congress had a neck-and-neck fight in the Garo Hills in the last assembly polls. But the political equation changed here when former CM Mukul Sangma, who led Congress to become the single largest party in the 2018 polls by winning 21 seats, joined TMC in 2021 along with 11 other Congress legislators. TMC not only became the principal opposition party in Meghalaya but has emerged as the biggest challenger of NPP.
A senior leader of TMC said it will win in at least 16 seats in the Garo Hills. He added that TMC will take away Congress votes but will equally damage NPP. "Congress will be reduced to zero. And NPP may go down below double-digit mark in Garo Hills," he added.
"In the light of the present political scenario, it is evident to everyone that the current NPP-led MDA government should go. People from the entire length and breadth of society are annoyed with the performance of the NPP-led MDA government," said former Congress leader Augustine D Marak from Dadenggre assembly constituency after joining Meghalaya TMC on Tuesday.
TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee kicked off campaigning at a mass public rally in Mendipathar, North Garo Hills district, where Trinamool leaders, including Abhishek Banerjee, dared to oust the 'corrupt' government.
NPP is not ignoring the opposition parties even as Conrad has made it clear that if he becomes chief minister again, the entire Garo Hills will reap the benefits. "Development will further gain momentum once I get re-elected from South Tura constituency. But your vote will also help the entire Garo Hills to reap the benefits," Conrad said, hinting at special favour for the Garo Hills region, even as he noted there will be no disparity with any other region of the state.
Kangkan Kalita is a reporter with The Times of India and covers i...
Read MoreKangkan Kalita is a reporter with The Times of India and covers issues on health, education, stories of human interest while keeping a close watch on political developments and student movements. Reporting on environment and forest related issues and concerns of the northeast interest him equally.
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