Meghalaya polls: Lyngdoh sisters and former minister file nominations

Correspondent

SHILLONG, JAN 31: Former Congress minister Dr. Mazel Ampareen Lyngdoh and her sister, Dr. Jasmine Lyngdoh were the first to file their nomination papers on Tuesday as National People’s Party (NPP) candidates for the upcoming Meghalaya assembly election scheduled to be held on February 27.

Another prominent politician who filed his nomination papers on Tuesday was former sports and youth affairs minister, Pynshai Manik Syiem as an independent candidate from Mylliem assembly constituency. Amapreen, the longest serving woman legislator in the matrilineal state of Meghalaya, is seeking re-election for the fourth consecutive term from East Shillong assembly seat. Her younger sister Jasmine, a psychologist by profession, submitted her nomination papers from Nongthymmai assembly constituency for the first time.

The deadline for filing nominations is on February 7, and the scrutiny of papers is on February 8, the last date for withdrawal of nomination is on Febru- ary 10. The elections will be held on February 27 and counting of votes on March 2.

Daughters of popular

Congress leader and former Assembly Speaker, late Peter Garnett Marbaniang and sisters to former Home minister Robert Garnett Lyngdoh; the two siblings were accompanied by their family members and supporters to Deputy Commissioner’s office in Shillong to file their nomination papers.

Ampareen is confident to win assembly polls for the fifth straight consecutive term as she has been involved and met the genuine demands of her constituents.

Meghalayapolls:CongressleaderjoinsTMC

Correspondent

DADENGGRE (MEGHA-

LAYA), JAN 31: A day after he withdrew his candidature from the upcoming Meghalaya assembly elections, senior Congress leader Augustine D. Marak on Tuesday joined the opposition Trinamool Congress (TMC) with a sole intention to defeat health and family welfare minister and National People’s Party (NPP) candidate, James Sangma. Augustine along with 200 supporters from different political parties joined the Mamata Banerjee-led TMC party here in the presence of Meghalaya TMC candidate Rupa M Marak and Dadenggre Block President Jengga Jilinga M Marak.

“In the light of the present political scenario, it is evident to everyone that the current NPP-led government should go. People from the entire length and breadth of society are annoyed with the performance of the government. This is the reason that prompted me to take this decision today like other people from all walks of life,” Augustine said.

Taking a jibe on performance of the incumbent Dadenggre representative to the Meghalaya Assembly James Sangma, the veteran p olitician said, “I am the one who was spearheading the James Sangma’s return to power in the last election hoping that James will be the natural choice for CM as Conrad did not contest the Assembly election.”

“We thought it would be a matter of pride for us if the MLA from Dadenggre becomes Chief Minister. But after the formation of government James could not perform at any portfolio given to him. That is why I said in the speech that James is not even fit to be an

MLA now. The atmosphere here at the event shows that people are really fed up with James and his way of dealing with the people,” he alleged.

Elaborating on his decision to join Meghalaya TMC, Augustine said, “Some reports have come out suggesting that the votes might get split between Congress and TMC and this might benefit the party that is not fit to win. This is why I am taking Vincent Pala head-on for abandoning Garo Hills. People from Kolkata have visited this part multiple times but he couldn’t come here from Shillong.”

Praising the ideals of Trinamool Congress that call for standing up for the rights of minorities, Augus- tine D Marak said, “When the funds for Mother Teresa charity [Missionaries of Charity] were blocked by the Centre, our Chief Minister was silent. Neither your MLA James Sangma nor MP Agatha Sangma said a word against the move. But Trinamool MPs from West Bengal - Mahua Moitra and Derek O’Brien - spoke on our behalf.

Expressing his delight for the support extended by Augustine, TMC candidate from Dadenggre assembly seat Rupa Marak said, “With the support from uncle and several leaders who are here to support me, I am very confident that we will manage to get through this election. On the counting day, we will come out with flying colours.”

“I have won four previous elections and I have served my people. There is a high probability that my support will expand and reach more people as my principle as a legislator is to involve grassroots decision,” the former professor of Mass Communication at the prestigious St. Anthony’s College explained.

Asked why did choose to contest from the ruling NPP, the veteran Congress leader said, “I feel the ideology of the NPP is close to the Congress, it is not a communal party, it believes in inclusive politics, it is a party which believes in grassroots politics and in this way I follow the same footsteps that I always have been coached and trained over the years. “

Asked if the education scam case of 2008-2009 against her will affect her poll prospects, Amapreen said , “I do not think that the matter before the District and Sessions Court will have any impact on my election. We have full faith in the judiciary system and until such time I am innocent of any wrongdoing. That will not affect my election and my people know that I am confident of no wrongdoing.”

On the other hand, Jasmine is hopeful that the voters of Nongthymmai, which is currently represented by former Assembly Speaker and Trinamool Congress candidate, Charles Pyngrope, would reflect before clicking the voting machine on February 27, saying that “there is so much to do in Nongthymmai.”

Seat sharing with Tipra Motha likely: CPI-M

AGARTALA, JAN 31 (PTI): Tripura CPI(M) secretary Jitendra Choudhury Tuesday said Tipra Motha, a tribal regional party, has resumed dialogues with the Left party for likely seat adjustment by the two parties to defeat BJP in the February 16 Assembly poll.

Choudhury said that Tipra Motha supremo Pradyot Kishore Manikya Debbarma had telephoned him on Tuesday morning and said that the party has not named any contestant at Sabroom, from where he is contesting.

The Left party leader claimed that Debbarma has assured that he will undertake an assessment of winnability of the candidates to take on BJP and CPI-M and Tipra Motha will support each other wherever either of them are relatively weak.

“The Tipra Motha chief said he will let me know by this evening ...

Even if the matter is not yet finalised today, I believe it will be settled by February 2, the last date of withdrawal of nomination,” Choudhury claimed.

Snippets

‘Jai Jai Maha

Majha’ recognised as state song

MUMBAI, JAN 31 (PTI):

The Maharashtra government on Tuesday recognised ‘Jai Jai Maharashtra Majha’ as the state song.

The song will be adopted on February 19, the birth anniversary of the founder of the Maratha empire Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. The decision was taken by the Maharashtra cabinet, headed by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.

One of the iconic songs in Marathi, ‘Jai Jai Maharashtra Majha, Garja Maharashtra Majha’, which means ‘Glory to Maharashtra’, was penned by Raja Badhe and sung by balladeer Krishnarao

Sable, popularly known as Shaheer Sable.

AI case: Shankar Mishra gets bail

NEW DELHI, JAN 31 (PTI): A Delhi court on Tuesday granted bail to Shankar Mishra, accused of urinating on a woman co-passenger on an Air India flight from New York to Delhi. Additional Sessions Judge Harjyot Singh Bhalla granted the relief on a personal bond of Rs 1 lakh. The judge was hearing an appeal filed by the accused against an order of a magisterial court that had denied him bail. The metropolitan magistrate had on January 11 denied relief to Mishra, saying the act was utterly disgusting and repulsive, shocked the civic consciousness and needed to be deprecated.

Two booked for religious conversion

KAUSHAMBI (UP), JAN 31 (PTI): An FIR was registered against two people on Tuesday for allegedly thrashing and forcing a man to convert his religion in Pashchim Sharira village here, police said. According to police, the complainant, Nand Lal Saroj (24), accused one Santlal and Ram Chandra of forcing him to convert to Christianity. He also accused the duo of beating him. Police has detained Santlal and further probe is on in the matter.

Mandaviya meets

GAVI CEO

NEW DELHI, JAN 31 (PTI): Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Tuesday met Dr Seth Berkley, CEO, GAVI, the international vaccine alliance, at Nirman Bhawan here. “Met @GaviSeth, CEO of the @GAVI, the international vaccine alliance. He appreciated India’s vaccination programme, U-win platform and Universal Immunization programme,” the minister tweeted. A day before the meeting, Prakash Kumar Singh, Director, Government and Regulatory Affairs at Serum Institute of India (SII) had met Berkley in Delhi, and discussed various issues. The GAVI team is slated to visit Pune on February 2 to meet SII CEO Adar C Poonawalla.