Former Tura MP and NPP leader Agatha K. Sangma expressed her confidence in NPP candidate Mehtab Chandee Sangma’s prospects in the Gambegre by-election, describing her as an experienced and highly qualified candidate. “I really feel that the people of Gambegre are looking forward to voting in this election, and they will definitely look at the government of the day. They will look at our honourable chief minister and also our candidate Mehtab Chandee A. Sangma,” Agatha said, emphasizing Mehtab’s extensive experience in public life. “I really feel that the combination is wonderful, and we will see good results.”
Agatha highlighted that the people of Gambegre have witnessed the development work led by Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma and other NPP ministers. She believes they want to elect an MLA connected to the government to ensure continued progress. “I think we have a very positive response from the people of Gambegre. I’ve personally talked to many people and seen the campaigns; it’s going very well. The people of Gambegre have seen the work of our chief minister and the NPP government. I feel that Gambegre wants to be part of that, to have an MLA who is part of the government, which will help bring about better development and better schemes,” she said.
Responding to comments made by Saleng A. Sangma regarding election campaigning, Agatha called his remarks “unfortunate” and stressed the importance of active voter engagement. “I think that’s a very unfortunate way of looking at elections because I feel that eventually, those of us in active politics have to ask for votes from the people, work hard, and campaign. There’s nothing wrong if the chief minister is spending time campaigning, and there’s nothing wrong with ministers campaigning because it shows how serious we are about even one small election,” she stated.
Agatha praised the Chief Minister’s dedication, noting that his proactive campaign in Gambegre demonstrates his commitment to achieving positive outcomes for the people. “One lesson that we have learned over the years is to never take any election for granted. Giving your full might and ensuring positive results for the people of Gambegre is a wonderful way the chief minister is campaigning,” she added.
When asked about her views on the current Tura MP Saleng A. Sangma, Agatha expressed her hope that he takes his role with the seriousness it demands. She emphasized that being a Member of Parliament requires thoughtful introspection and substantial work. “All I can say is I wish him all the best, and I hope he does justice to this term. Being a Member of Parliament requires serious introspection; you can’t just make silly comments and consider that as parliamentary work. There’s serious work to be done, and I really wish him all the best in that,” she remarked.
When questioned about Gambegre’s nearest competitor, she noted, “That I don’t know honestly, because I think all of them are good candidates, and they deserve credit for that. But I definitely know that we are the front runners in this election.”
Reflecting on her own political journey, Agatha acknowledged the challenges of winning and losing in politics. “It was a big personal defeat because it’s something close to my heart, but that’s part of being in politics—you win some and you lose some,” she concluded.