'People Came To See PM Modi, But It Won't Convert Into Votes': Meghalaya CM Sangma Casts Vote

Meghalaya Election: CM Conrad Sangma, who cast his vote in South Tura constituency, said there was a wave in favour of NPP and exuded confidence that the party would return to power.

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Monday said there was a wave in favour of his National People’s Party (NPP) and exuded confidence that it would return to power. Sangma, who contested from South Tura constituency, said even though people came to see Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his rallies, it won't convert into votes for the BJP.

Speaking to reporters after casting his vote in Walbakgre LP School in Tura after standing in queue for about two hours, Sangma said, "We are getting good response from everywhere and seeing that the people have come out in large numbers to vote. Even in the South Tura constituency, we have not seen such a turnout in the past. We consider it as a good sign for democracy."

"The wave is positive and we are confident that it will be in our favour," the Meghalaya CM said. When asked about post-poll alliances in case of a hung assembly, Sangma said, "We will see when time comes."

Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma is pitted against militant-turned-politician Bernard Marak.

Asked if PM Modi's election rallies in the state would have a positive impact on BJP's chances in the polls, Sangma said, "PM ji PM ji hain. Obviously if the Prime Minister comes, people will come to see and listen to him, but at the end, the problems at the grass-roots level and local issues are different."

"For these problems, there are other types of political systems and mechanisms. People will come to see the Prime Minister, but it is not a surety that it will be converted into votes. It won't happen and I don't think they will get too many votes," the CM said.

Since 2018, the BJP has been a junior partner in the NPP-led Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) government. Ahead of the elections, the two parties decided to go solo. Since then, the NPP and BJP have been engaged in a bitter war of words.

CM Sangma was accompanied by his sister Agatha K Sangma, who is a Lok Sabha MP from the state's Tura constituency

CM Sangma was accompanied by his sister Agatha K Sangma, who is a Lok Sabha MP from the state's Tura constituency, and mother Soradini K Sangma.

"We are looking at a very positive response and we are confident that the NPP is going to come out in flying colours and we just have to wait till March 2 for that," Agatha Sangma said.

The Garo Hills, which has 24 seats of the total 60, has given a chief minister for 34 years of the state's 50 years of existence. 

According to the Election Commission of India (ECI), over 21 lakh people are eligible to elect their representatives from 369 candidates in the single-phased election.

Voting is being held in 59 constituencies as the ECI has adjourned polling in Sohiong Assembly constituency after the demise of one of the candidates HDR Lyngdoh, who was fielded by United Democratic Party (UDP), Lyngdoh died on February 20 after suffering a cardiac arrest.

Some of the key players in the election are Conrad K Sangma of the NPP, former chief minister and TMC chief ministerial candidate Mukul Sangma, former Assembly Speaker Metbah Lyngdoh of the United Democratic Party (UDP), and Lok Sabha MP and Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) President Vincent H Pala, who is also the grand old party's chief ministerial candidate.

Tight security arrangements have been made to conduct free and fair polls in the state, with special vigil in place in the vulnerable and critical polling stations. Of the 3,419 polling booths in the state, 640 have been considered as vulnerable, 323 critical and 84 both vulnerable as well as critical.

Chief Electoral Officer F R Kharkongor said "no untoward incident" has been reported thus far. "Malfunctioning of EVMs came to the fore at a few polling booths, but those were later fixed. Polling is being held in a free and fair manner," the CEO said.

A total of 119 companies of Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) have been deployed across the northeastern state for the polls.

On the other hand, the ECI has ordered the sealing of the state’s international border with neighbouring Bangladesh till March 2.

Some of the key issues in this election are corruption, law and order. Reopening of coal mining is a major poll promise of all the parties. Votes will be counted on March 2.