Shillong, Jan 12: National People’s Party (NPP) national president and chief minister Conrad K Sangma on Thursday categorically denied that there was any understanding with the BJP and the UDP by the party not fielding candidates for South Shillong and Mairang constituencies.
“There is no understanding as such,” Sangma told reporters.
Mairang is currently being represented by UDP chief and Assembly Speaker Metbah Lyngdoh and South Shillong by BJP leader and cabinet minister Sanbor Shullai.
Sangma cited the failure of the party to find suitable candidates from the two constituencies as the main reason for the decision to field in 58 out of 60 Assembly seats.
“It so happens that we did not find candidates. Though we did find some people, we were not satisfied and as a party we decided not to go ahead with Mairang and South Shillong,” he said.
When asked, the chief minister said there is no understanding with the UDP and BJP as it doesn’t really work that way. “You can always make your own judgment and reach your own conclusions but the fact of the matter is what I have told you,” he maintained.
He, however, said sometimes the more the candidates are contesting, the better it is for the sitting MLAs but anti-incumbency factors are also there in some constituencies.
