Leader of the opposition in the Assembly, Dr Mukul Sangma, today taunted the National People’s Party (NPP) for the latter’s defeat in the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) elections.
Taking a jibe at the party, Dr Sangma said that parties at the helm of affairs should do their homework and reconnect with the people after drawing a blank in the polls. The NPP lost badly, finishing with just four seats, behind the United Democratic Party (5) and new ruling Voice of the People Party (17). The Congress Party was completely wiped out. Dr Sangma’s Trinamool Congress, on the other hand, decided not to contest the elections at all and has been haemorrhaging what little support it has in Khasi-Jaintia Hills.
Mocking the NPP, Dr Sangma said that despite having control and allegedly misusing authority, the party performed poorly in the elections.
Sangma said the election results should be a wake-up call for leaders in government, highlighting their failure to fulfill duties and address public concerns, particularly youth unemployment. He pointed out that many young voters supported the VPP due to rising joblessness and criticised the government for not filling vacancies in state departments. For example, despite assurances from the State Security Commission that police recruitment would be completed by March, Sangma noted that no new jobs have been created so far.
He also slammed the state government for its growing debt burden, citing last year’s Comptroller and Auditor General report, which revealed unauthorised spending by some departments. Calling the situation alarming, Sangma urged the government to take corrective measures. Despite these challenges, he acknowledged the state’s steady growth over the past 15 years, noting that Meghalaya has maintained progress even during difficult times.
