Sangmas launch NPP poll campaign from Adokgre village

SHILLONG: The Sangma siblings - Meghalaya CM Conrad Sangma , his brother and home minister James and sister Agatha - on Monday kickstarted National People's Party's (NPP) poll campaign for the Tura Lok Sabha seat from the heritage village of Adokgre in North Garo Hills.

Recalling her late father PA Sangma, who was elected from Tura for nine consecutive terms, Agatha said he always used to start campaigning from Tura which he considered as his bastion.

Addressing a gathering , Agatha, who is NPP candidate from Tura, said, "NPP has evolved as party and is working for the common good of the northeast and its people. I am in the company of different leaders of the region which is an added boost for me. "I am confident of your support."

Agatha had represented the Tura seat as a NCP member in the Lok Sabha and had been the youngest minister in the then UPA government a decade ago.

Addressing an election meeting, Conrad said his father had lovingly referred to Adokgre as 'Chenanggre', which in Garo means the 'Land of Victory'. Urged the electorate to vote for Agatha to ensure speedy development, he added, "Agatha is a former MP and knows all the central ministers well."

He further said, "Our father did a lot of development work for the Garo Hills and the northeast." NPP, of which Conrad is the national president, is a constituent of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance.

Talking about his government's achievements over the past one year, Conrad highlighted several schemes which have been implemented in the Garo Hills. Former chief minister DD Lapang, who quit Congress to join NPP last year, also urged the people to vote overwhelmingly for Agatha, who, he said, was best suited to highlight issues regarding the Garo Hills in Parliament.

Agatha will face former chief minister and Congress heavyweight Mukul Sangma in Tura.