Shillong, Sep 6: The National People’s Party (NPP) candidate for the Shillong Lok Sabha by-election, D Rocklyer Lyngdoh Nonglait on Saturday said electing an MP who is aligned with the state government is crucial to bring funds and follow-up projects from Delhi.
Addressing voters at Maweit under Mawshynrut constituency, Nonglait said, “Going to Parliament is not just sitting in the House. Just sitting will not get you schemes. You have to follow up with different ministries. Files are prepared in the Secretariat after thorough study. For that you need Sniawbhalang [Dhar], Prestone [Tynsong] (both of whom are Deputy Chief Ministers) and the Chief Minister. If you want funds to follow up projects from Delhi, elect an MP who is with the government.”
Nonglait is seeking to fill a vacancy created by the death of the previous MP, Ricky AJ Syngkon, in February. Syngkon was from the Voice of the People Party (VPP).
Stating that the West Khasi Hills region has never had much representation in Parliament, he said, “We got an MP for only two years,” referring to the late Hopingstone Lyngdoh, who held the seat from 1977 to 1980. “The NPP has not discriminated against West Khasi Hills. When the NPP called me, it remembered you, the people of West Khasi Hills.”
Nonglait assured that he would work without party bias if elected.
“As president of KAS (Khasi Authors’ Society) I speak for Khasi, Pnar, Lyngngam to grow in villages. In my seminars and books, I don’t speak only for one party, I work for all. Now if you elect me as MP, I will work for all, there will be no party difference,” he said.
On why he chose NPP, he said the decision was taken after careful consideration. “I am standing on this political platform after laying a strong foundation, after measuring and weighing it. Because I see this party does good work,” he said.
He listed developmental initiatives under the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance government, including opening of Shallang block in 2022, Nonglang block and improvement of Nongstoin-Rambrai-Kyrshai Road.
He said the MDA government has taken bold decisions on long-pending demands like resolution to include Khasi language in Eighth Schedule, resolution for Inner Line Permit (ILP) and making Khasi an official language.
