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Hello Jammu News at 3:38:00 PM 0



Shillong, Tura, Mar 21: The ruling Congress on Saturday opened its account after Information and Technology Minister Mazel Ampareen Lyngdoh has been declared elected East Shillong constituency by a huge margin of 6074 votes.
The Congres is leading in 20 assembly seats with Chief Minister Mukul Sangma is leading from both the Assembly constituency- Ampati and Songsak. 
Dr. Sangma is set to return for the sixth consecutive time from Ampati constituency, is leading by a margin of 2200 votes. While in Songsak, he is leading by 1830 by a margin of votes against his nearest rival Nihim D.Shira of the National People’s Party. 
However, Home Minister and veteran Congress leader Horju Donkupar Roy Lyngdoh has been in a triangular contest with Hill State People’s Democratic Party legislator Samlin Malngiang won by 622 votes.
The National People’s Party (NPP) is leading 16 Assembly constituencies out of the 59 seats, for which voting was held on February 27.
Former Union Minister Agatha K Sangma is leading and former Congress minister Prestone Tynsong is leading from South Tura and Pynursla assembly constituency respectively.
The BJP which is contesting in 47 assembly seats, is leading five seats with prominent candidates Alexander Laloo Hek , Sanbor Shullai leading in Pynthorumkhrah and South Shillong seat.
United Democratic Party Chief and Leader of Opposition Dr. Donkupar Roy is trailing at 347 votes to People’s Democratic Front (PDF) candidate Leston Wanswett in Shella assembly constituency. UNI
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Hello Jammu News at 1:03:00 PM 0


Tura, Mar 3: Chief Minister Mukul Sangma was leading in both the Assembly constituency – Ampati and Songsak – in the first round of counting of votes.
In Ampati assembly constituency, Dr Sangma is leading by 400 in a straight contest against BJP candidate Bakul Hajong, while in Songsak, he was leading by 1352 votes against National People’s Party candidate Nihim D.Shira.
Meanwhile, the ruling Congress is leading in 14 seats, NPP in 6, United Democratic Party and People;’s Democratic Front in 4 seats each. 
The BJP was leading in Dalu and Pynthorunkhrah assembly constituency After the first the round of counting, Dr Sangma has taken a lead by 716 against National People’s Party (NPP) The polling for the 59 Assembly seats out of 60 seats was held on February 37.
The polling for the 59 Assembly constituencies out 60, was held on February 27.
In Wlliamnagar constituency, the EC is yet to announce the dates, which was countermanded following death of a Nationalist Congress Party Candidate (NCP) Jonathone Sangma. UNI
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Hello Jammu News at 4:18:00 PM 0


Tura, Meghalaya, Feb 20: Chief Minister Mukul Sangma today took strong exception to Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh's statement on lawlessness in Meghalaya .
Yesterday, Mr. Singh had attacked the ruling Congress-led Meghalaya United Alliance government for the chaos and failure of law and order in Meghalaya while commenting on the IED blast that killed Nationalist Congress Party candidate Jonathone N. Sangma, and three others at Samanda in East Garo Hills.
“It is the most irresponsible comment of a Home Minister of a nation. Has he forgotten his own responsibility?” the chief minister asked.
“He (Singh) is in a difficult terrain. Our proposal to strengthen police stations which was approved by the UPA-II Government had been withheld by the BJP government at the Centre,” Dr Sangma alleged, while expressing his anger on Singh’s statement.
The chief minister said though BJP had not paid much interest on the proposal of Meghalaya for improving police infrastructure, effort by the State Government led to the formation of Special Force – 10, wherein over 1700 personnel were recruited to tackle insurgency and law and order in the State.
Terming that Meghalaya government has never compromised on tackling insurgency and restoring peace, Dr Sangma questioned on the porous India – Bangladesh border, through which sophisticated arms, IEDs come to Indian side.
“In Nagaland arms are available freely. The international border is porous and the Union Minister is playing politics,” he added.
Dr. Sangma said that the Union Minister is 'threatening the people to vote for the BJP.'
“We are not beggars. Even without Centre’s assistance we have launched health insurance scheme of Rs 2.5 lakh in Meghalaya”, he said, while reacting on Singh’s comment that if BJP was not voted to power, five lakhs health insurance schemes, which was recently rolled will find difficulty in its implementation. UNI
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Hello Jammu News at 12:56:00 PM 0


Tura (Meghalaya), Feb 16: No sooner the curtains are set to fall for election campaign in Tripura, where polling is to be held on Sunday, the BJP poll strategists are working overtime now to launch aggressive campaign in Congress-ruled Meghalaya.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to campaign in Phulbari in Garo Hills on February 21 or 22, a key source in Meghalaya BJP told.
Phulbari hamlet is located in Selsella Tehsil of West Garo Hills district. 
Among other top leaders, BJP may field Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh for election campaign in key political constituency of Garo Hills in Tura. "We are expecting Mr Rajnath Singhji on February 19," the source said.
For the prestigious South Tura Assembly seat, the BJP has fielded Billykid A Sangma, who is taking on among others former Union Minister Agatha Sangma of NPP. 
BJP national president Amit Shah is slated to address two election rallies, one each at Jowai in Jaintia Hills and in the state capital Shillong, on Friday.
Jowai is the headquarters of West Jaintia Hills district. "The Shillong rally will be held at the Malki ground," the source said.
The high-profile election campaign in Tripura ends on Friday and the stage will be set for electioneering in two other northeastern states of Meghalaya and Nagaland.
Nagaland and Congress-ruled Meghalaya will go to the polls on February 27. The counting of votes for all three northeastern states will be taken up simultaneously on March 3.
Meanwhile talking to UNI, BJP's South Tura assembly candidate Billykid A Sangma said that besides development, corruption under Congress Chief Minister Mukul Sangma is a major poll issue in this year's polls in Meghalaya.
"I am very sad and it is also surprising that even as Meghalaya is one of the poorest states in the country, there are allegations that our Chief Minister (Mukul Sangma) is one of the most corrupt Chief Ministers in the country," he said.
South Tura has about 30,000 voters and the electorate comprises of native Garo tribe besides Hajong, Koch and others like Nepalis, Bengalis and Biharis.
Answering questions, Mr Billykid, who represented South Tura earlier between 2003 and 2008 as Independent MLA, said, "Since 2008, Tura has not changed. Roads are same. Engineering College and a medical college were supposed to come, but nothing materialised".
He said, "It's only BJP which can deliver these developments".
Talking about Modi government's performance, he said, the demonetisation will prove as a "blessing and a boon for all of us in the long run". He also said the move helped the government directly and indirectly to crush the insurgency among Garo militants.
"It was a brave move by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi as he showed the courage," Mr Sangma said, adding that due to note ban, the militants really had tough time. "Demonetisation had a big role in curbing militancy," he said.
Sharing his vision for Tura if he gets elected, the BJP nominee said, "I will be pushing for Tura bypass as we need to improve upon the road connectivity".
He further said he would strive to push the railway network up to Jengjal area adding the people of Mendipathar have "really benefited from the railway network".
To a question, Mr Sangma dismissed suggestions that introduction of railway network will also bring in a large number of 'outsiders' into the state - an issue often raised in the tribal dominated states in the northeast.
"As of now this fear was there....but Mendipathar is an example, nothing is happening there," he said.
Answering questions, Mr Sangma said his election is chiefly against NPP leader Agatha, the sister of Lok Sabha MP and NPP chief Conrad Sangma. 
The BJP nominee also said that BJP is "not a communal or anti-Christian party as made out to be" and added: "only elected Christian leaders Sangmas and Maraks will make laws and run the government for the Christians in Meghalaya". 
In 2013, Independent candidate John Leslee K Sangma had defeated Billykid A Sangma, then a Congress candidate, by a slender margin of only 18 votes. UNI 
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Hello Jammu News at 2:40:00 PM 0



Tura, Meghalaya, Feb 14: The BJP has postponed its musical festival, scheduled this 
evening here in poll-bound Meghalaya in view of the Ash Wednesday which marks the onset of the Lent season in the Christian calendar.
The statement said that the party postponed the festival in view of the funeral of Salesian priest Fr Anthony Abong Marak, who passed away in a Guwahati hospital on Monday night.
Observance of Ash Wednesday is the start of the month long Lent Season of abstinence which is one of the most important events in the Christian calendar before Easter Sunday which celebrates the resurrection of Lord Jesus Christ. UNI
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Hello Jammu News at 1:39:00 PM 0


Tura (Meghalaya), Feb 3: Even without coming to power in Meghalaya, the alleged machinations of BJP-led NDA regime at the Centre has created hurdles for Christian missionaries in the state and several foreign visitors were denied visa, allege church leaders here.
"Bit by bit we were feeling the pinch....several American social workers and Church leaders from American Baptist Missionary Society and Garo Hills were denied visa," Rev JR Sangma general secretary of Garo Baptist Convention told here.
Answering questions, he said he is aware of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's repeated assurances about safety and security of minorities.
"I think Modi has not been able to convince people about his government's approach towards minorities. We feel alienated. Prime Minister's statement sounds more like lip services," Rev Sangma said.
In the run up to the February 27 elections to Meghalaya assembly, the battle has intensified and in many quarters Christian leaders are apprehensive of BJP's hardliner Hindutva slant.
Rev WR Marak of Tura Baptist Church shares similar sentiment of Rev Sangma and says in more ways than one there are set of 'challenges' for the Church leaders in this predominantly Christian state.
The Christian leaders also point out that 'deliberate changes made by the central government in Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) has affected church bodies as funds flow has been hit.
"This is a serious issue. But we are unable to do much," says Rev Sangma adding several north eastern pastors and Church leaders and even among Catholics have expressed their concern over these developments.
However, not many Church leaders are aware about any roadmap to tackle the challenges.
"We don't have any strategy to counter BJP but we are confident about one thing -- the resilience power of Indians and the strong secular fabric," says a Christian educationist Anthony Gama. 
Several other citizens in Tura and adjoining place feel Congress is also to be blamed for its long ineffective governance and faulty politics.
"Citizens in northeast have trusted Congress for decades but the party has let everyone down. It is Congress' non-performance that has helped create space for BJP and this remains a challenge," says educationist Anthony Gama. UNI
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Hello Jammu News at 12:39:00 PM 0



Tura (Meghalaya), Feb 3: There is hardly any escape from reality as dilapidated stretch greets visitors to rural Garo Hills. While Guwahati-Tura highway is well maintained, roads are poorly kept in many areas of the rural pockets.
In the run up to the elections to Meghalaya assembly, people do have complaints against the political class and the administration. As one talks to the voters at clusters between Tura and Songsak or along the Assam border, one thing is clear the governance or the absence of it has left a trail of evidence showing how the polity has neglected development.
In some areas people are talking about Tura-Nongstoin-Shillong Highway which will provide access to rural Garo region people to the state capital Shillong. "But it came too late as Congress felt nervous," maintains a villager near Songsak assembly segment.
In fact, rural Meghalaya offers difficult roads. "Broken patches, potholes and numerous bumps form inherent parts of roads. We need to come out of this stage," says D Sangma of NPP. 
According to BJP candidate for South Tura Billykid A Sangma, "The Congress party has been responsible for lack of development. This is the opportunity for the people to get into fast track development as envisaged by Prime Minister Narendra Modi".
Citizens in this region also complain about rampant school dropouts and absence of infrastructures in schools and colleges.
"Lack of adequate government schools is an issue. In many villages education is solely left with Christian missionary schools,' says Umesh Kumar Dhar, a voter in rural Songsak constituency.
Chief Minister Mukul Sangma of Congress is contesting this seat besides his pocket-borough Ampati. 
According to NPP sources, party candidate Nihim Shira is all set to give a determined fight to Mukul Sangma.
Vinita Sangma, another NPP leader, says there is a cycle affect vis-a-vis absence of development as poor education ultimately results in unemployment problem. A number of youths in Tura and adjoining areas speak in similar vein. "Due to the absence of any industry, young people are forced to either run auto rickshaws or work as poorly paid counter assistants in Tir (locally run gambling) counters," laments 24 year old Richard Momin near Mendipathar.
According to locals, other areas of concern that come into focus during elections include abundant water scarcity in many parts of the state. In many areas collection of water from PHE department taps and natural water springs is considered normal.
BJP leader Billykid A Sangma says last decade hardly saw purposeful development works as those who ran the state of affairs indulged in rampant corruption.
"One of the striking problems is lack of avenues and infrastructures for farmers to sell their products. I can assure, once BJP comes to power, we will attend to this issue with priority focus', he says.
Incidentally in many pockets even Congress supporters sound pessimistic. 
"Mukul Sangma is good but he could not give my son a job," says one villager Lurminot Kodak but asserts again that as traditional Congress voter he would vote for the grand old party yet again. UNI
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Hello Jammu News at 11:27:00 AM 0


Tura (Meghalaya) Feb 2: To be bizarre is often an asset in politics, but family connections helps much more.
Weeks before February 27 crucial polls that often threaten to write political obituary of Mukul Sangma - the incumbent Chief Minister of Meghalaya is set to be a eight MLA strong leader. Of course all his choicest nominees need to win for that.
At least this is what some of the detractors of Mukul Sangma feel."Mukul Sangma is playing a very calculative game. His fight involves family and a bunch of personal loyalists. In the event of a hung assembly, he will stand with his 7-8 numbers," says Tura-based BJP leader Billykid A Sangma.
Like the BJP leader, many others including from NPP point out that Mukul Sangma has kept the numbers in mind and in the process decided to ensure that right from the beginning he should have at least 7-8 seats with him.
"Actually he does not trust many Congress candidates. He is building up a mini camp of relatives and personal loyalists," says NPP leader Vinita Sangma.
Explaining further, she says Mukul Sangma is himself contesting from two assembly segments Ampati and Songsak. His wife and sitting MLA Dikkanchi D Shira is seeking re-election from Mahendraganj. 
On the same line, Chief Minister's brother and Excise Minister Zenith Sangma has been fielded from Rangsakona. Zenith's wife Sadhiarani Sangma, who is also chairperson of Garo Hill Autonomous District Council is Congress nominee from Gambegre.
She will be taking on among others NCP state unit chief Saleng A Marak, who has been winning the seat for two consecutive terms.
Mukul Sangma has also tried to ensure that his loyalists too get party tickets, say leaders from other parties.Limison D Sangma has been fielded from Raksamgre while another loyalist Jimmy D Sangma will be contesting on Congress ticket from Tikrikala.
Similarly, they say Mukul has ensured that his loyalist Clement Marak is also Congress candidate from Selsela.
However, on the other hand, family politics is inherent legacy of Lok Sabha MP Conrad Sangma led NPP as well. Conrad's sister Agatha Sangma, a former Union Minister, will contest from South Tura while Conrad's brother in law Sanjay A Sangma will be taking on Mukul Sangma' s wife in Mahendraganj.
NPP has also fielded Ian Botham Sangma, another kin of Conrad Sangma from Salmanpara. UNI
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