Former Congress MLA from Ranikor, Martin M. Danggo on Wednesday urged his opponents not to contest the upcoming bye election if they have negative mind of destroying the constituency.
After being inducted into the ruling National People’s Party (NPP) at its party office here, Danggo who will be the NPP candidate in the upcoming bypoll to Ranikor Assembly seat, instead urged them to support him.
Danggo resigned as Congress MLA on June 21 after the NPP-led Meghalaya Democratic Alliance government decided to make Ranikor a full-fledged Civil Sub Division. The newly created Civil Sub Division was inaugurated by Deputy Chief Minister, Prestone Tynsong on July 10.
State NPP president, Dr Wanwei Roy Kharlukhi welcomed Danggo into the party in the presence of other party leaders.
Reacting to criticisms against him after he resigned as MLA, Dangoo told reporters that every political party has the right to contest and they have the right to criticize.
“But I would tell them that if they think that bringing Civil Sub Division is not the kind of development, it is up to them to judge what kind of development they want to give to the constituency. What wrong did I do by bringing civil sub-division to the constituency? Let them (opponents) analyze what sin I have committed by bringing civil sub-division to my constituency,” Danggo said.
He however expressed confidence that he would retain the Ranikor seat.
“I don’t mind who fights against me because I have trusted leaders and supporters. Let them construe in their mind that if they have got positive mind in bringing development to Ranikor, they should come and support me. But if they always have that negative mind of destroying the constituency and destroying anybody who is doing good, so it is better not to contest the bye election,” Danggo said.
The MDA partners – like the United Democratic Party (UDP) and People’s Democratic Front (PDF) – and the opposition Congress are all set to give the former Ranikor MLA a tough fight in the upcoming bye-election.
Danggo had won for the fifth consecutive time since 1998 as MLA of the erstwhile Langrin (now Ranikor) constituency.
In the February 27 Assembly polls this year, Danggo defeated his closest rival, UDP candidate, Pius Marweiñ by a margin of 2002 votes.
Danggo polled 10,952 votes, while Marweiñ secured 8,950 votes. Other candidates, Donkupar Massar of the NPP then polled 3,256 votes, Pelcy Snaitang of the BJP got 1,907 votes while Airmarshall Diengngan who was the candidate of the People’s Democratic Front (PDF) got 1,453 votes. The other two candidates – Martha R. Marak and John Dandaly Sangma got 98 and 76 votes respectively.
The UDP has decided to again field Pius Marweiñ in the bye election while the PDF is fielding former legislator, Pynshngaiñlang N Syiem who lost from Mawsynram constituency in the Assembly poll.
Asked if Marweiñ will be a threat to him, Danggo said, “everybody has the right to fight, and I don’t mind who my opponents are, as I have trusted and faithful leaders and supporters by my side. I don’t mind who criticize me because I will go my own way.”
On the decision of Syiem to join the fray from Ranikor, Danggo said that in a democratic country, anybody can contest not only in Ranikor constituency but anywhere in the country.
Danggo also expressed confidence of retaining the Ranikor seat in the upcoming bye-election.
“I am obliged to join the NPP and I will do my best to serve in whatever capacity that will be assigned to me. I will also soon apply for ticket to contest the bye-election,” he said.
Stating that the demand to create Ranikor Civil Sub Division was a long pending aspiration of the people of the constituency since 2005, Danggo accused the successive governments of failing to fulfill the demand.
He however hailed the leadership of Chief Minister, Conrad K. Sangma and expressed his grateful for granting a civil sub-division.
Danggo said that the people never expected that Ranikor will get the Civil Sub Division will be created until the chief minister Conrad K Sangma visited the constituency on June 12.
“This was possible because of the concern the Chief Minister had for Ranikor, which is one of the most backward constituencies. I did not join the NPP before the Assembly elections because I always abide by the decision of my leaders and supporters,” Danggo claimed.