New National People’s Party (NPP) member Jason Sawkmie Mawlong was welcomed by his Umsning party members today along with the former MDC of Umsning, Donkupar Sumer.
Mawlong resigned as an MLA in order to switch from the People’s Democratic Front (PDF) to the NPP. Sumer, meanwhile, was the working president of the United Democratic Party’s Ri-Bhoi unit until recently.
Mawlong and Sumer were welcomed to the party by NPP state president and Rajya Sabha MP, WR Kharlukhi. Also present were Chief Minister and NPP national president Conrad K Sangma, Deputy CM Prestone Tynsong and other ministers and MLAs.
Thousands of NPP supporters from Umsning constituency were also present.
Addressing the meeting, Sangma has expressed his immense pleasure on the joining of Mawlong and Sumer.
“The NPP is growing day by day and has become the strongest party with the coming of new faces. Only the NPP can lead the state for all-round development,” the CM said, adding that no matter the many criticisms against the NPP, it and its members will stand firm to work for the betterment of the people.
He highlighted his government’s moves to resolve the border dispute with Assam. Sangma said that it is only the NPP that dared to take on the long pending issue even if it has resulted in harsh criticism for the way the Phase 1 deal has given away land claimed by Meghalaya to Assam.