Meghalaya: NPP leaves no stone unturned in campaign for Ampati by-election

AMPATI, May 23, 2018: The ruling National People's Party (NPP) is all set to win the Ampati byelection, as chief minister Conrad Sangma addressed several election rallies in villages such as Murchapani, Garabokmangre, Sulguri and Borot Latre during the day.

The bypoll set for May 28 has largely been considered to be a "battle of supremacy" between chief minister Conrad K. Sangma and former chief minister Mukul Sangma.

The bypoll was necessitated after Mukul, who won from both Ampati and Songsak in the February Assembly polls this year, quit Ampati, which has sent him to the Assembly six times since 1993.

Conrad was accompanied by NPP legislators, ministers and MLAs from other parties in the ruling Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) in his campaigning endeavours.The NPP-led coalition government comprises of the United Democratic Party (UDP), People's Democratic Front (PDF), Hill State People's Democratic Party (HSPDP), the BJP, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and an Independent.Among other areas, he addressed a house meeting at Tataki village in the evening. He requested the people to give the NPP candidate a chance to represent the constituency and work together with the MDA government to develop it.

"The byelection is very important for NPP as this will demonstrate that Ampati is ready to embrace change and willing to be on the ruling side," Conrad said.

Leaders of NPP and its coalition partners have been camping in Ampati, a Mukul stronghold, in the last few days to woo voters.

TNT News with inputs from The Telegraph