SHILLONG, NOV 4: Tura MP and former Gambegre legislator Saleng A. Sangma voiced a sense of victory in the ongoing Gambegre by-elections, regardless of the result. He highlighted that Chief Minister Conrad Sangma’s intensified campaigning efforts, including door-to-door visits—reflect the impact of the by-election on the state’s political landscape.
Speaking to media in Shillong, the former Gambegre legislator said, the bye-election has been able to pull down right from the chief minister to his council of ministers and legislators to the constituency and beg people for their votes.
Saleng emphasized the unprecedented nature of the chief minister’s personal engagement. “I have not seen chief minister campaigning door to door in any of the constituency not even in his constituency but right now jumping to the area where he is not suppose to but I am glad and happy that he could see through the Gambegre what are the areas that need to be projected to. Now because of his wife only, he is going door to door, colony to colony and village to village. I am happy that this bye election has pulled down each and every minister, pulling them down to the ground to see what are the realities people are facing. The Gambegre bye election has really given them a lesson,” he said.
The Tura MP continued, “Whether we win or lose, I think I have won the battle…Congress has already won the election. You know why? Because all the ministers, Speaker and every MLA is going to each and every corner of my old constituency Gambegre whereas before they never even dream of going to the colonies or they never wanted to also but now see this Gambegre bye election has pulled them down like anything. And then you know they are begging for votes. See the importance of people right now.”
“Have you ever seen the Speaker, chief minister, deputy chief minister, everybody is going to each and every household? All MLAs and ministers are going down to one constituency and seeing the problems and trying to address the problems of the people. See the power of the people,” he added.
Asked about his stance on NPP’s criticism, Saleng dismissed it as empty rhetoric,“Who would be idiotically nonsense to believe that one? Since they are hands in glove with the BJP right now, right here in the state and they are hands in glove being in the government. Whom do they think they are trying to fool? Tell me? Are we nonsense?”
He remarked, further alleging misuse of resources, “They’ve deployed government machinery, which I welcome, as it shows people the lengths they’ll go to when they feel threatened.”
He also alleged, “Not only money but they have already used all government machineries out there which I love it because now people can see and people can feel when they are strong, they can pull down even the chief minister and the speaker to the ground.”
When asked, Saleng said, “In certain areas, I have also apologized if I could not reach certain areas so I don’t beg for votes. I ask them to look at the report cards of each and every year about what I have done and what I have not done. If you don’t have the progress report, don’t go back. I have given them the progress report,” he said.
“When they (NPP) are talking about development, they are insulting their own father. (L) PA Sangma had been the union minister, he had also been the Speaker (of Lok Sabha) and that time even the state was under him, his brothers in law were ministers that time. If Garo Hills is backward, they should blame their own people. 47 years is not a joke. I was not even born at that time,” the MP also stated.
To an allegation by the NPP that his wave will not impact the bye election, Saleng said, “If my wave has not impacted, whom you are seeing on the ground day to day, door to door? Will they have gone? Any people with common sense will not believe in the bluff. They have seen everybody has seen why chief minister is there 24 hours? Why Speaker is there? Why all ministers are campaigning in each and every polling station and colony? The NPP has felt threatened by the people and not by the Congress because if people had not voted for me for the Congress in this bye election, they would not have been pulled down to their knees.”
Saleng said, “I don’t have any mantra actually it’s the people who will decide. God has given us a free will. Even the prime minister cannot change the mantra also. We have seen the prime minister campaigning in Garo Hills not a single seat was captured by BJP at all.”
The Congress is fielding Jingjang Marak as its candidate to retain the Gambegre seat.
Saleng said the Congress’ candidate is very much a local person from Garo Hills. “He (Jingjang) is from Tura. He has been organizing not only from Tura but from all over Garo Hills and moreover, now since we have got some part of Tura after the delimitation he is very much local,” he added.
Saleng also spoke on his own campaign approach, saying, “In areas where I couldn’t reach, I haven’t begged for votes. Instead, I’ve asked people to look at my track record. If there’s no progress report, I wouldn’t return. I’ve provided one,” he stated.
Touching on NPP’s campaign promises, he added, “When they talk about development, they’re actually undermining their own legacy. The late P.A. Sangma held key positions like Union Minister and Speaker, and Garo Hills was under their leadership. If the area remains underdeveloped, they have their own legacy to answer to. Forty-seven years can’t be dismissed.”
Responding to NPP’s claim that his influence wouldn’t sway the by-election, Saleng asked, “If my influence is insignificant, why is the chief minister and the Speaker campaigning tirelessly on the ground? They wouldn’t be out there, begging for votes, if they didn’t feel the weight of the people’s power.”
He concluded with confidence in the people’s choice, stating, “I don’t have any mantra—it’s the people who decide. Even the Prime Minister couldn’t shift the votes here. We’ve seen him campaign in Garo Hills, and BJP didn’t win a single seat.”
The Congress is fielding Jingjang Marak, a local candidate from Tura, for the Gambegre seat. Saleng added, “Jingjang is very much from Garo Hills. He has been organizing not only in Tura but throughout Garo Hills. He represents the people well, especially after delimitation brought some of Tura into Gambegre.”