Shillong, Aug 10: National People’s Party (NPP) national vice president and deputy chief minister Prestone Tynsong on Wednesday maintained that the party will fight the upcoming elections on its own and is confident to lead the government in 2023.

He was reacting to a recent statement by the BJP that it is not willing to work with the NPP in 2023.

“I wish them (BJP) all the best as we are also not willing to work with the BJP since in this coming elections, we don’t have any pre-understanding with anybody, we stand on our own as NPP,” Tynsong told reporters.

He said that similar statements have also come not only from the BJP but from the UDP and other political parties as well that they would like to fight the 2023 polls on their own.

“So there is no question of pre-understandings or pre-poll alliance. So let us cross the bridge after the election once the counting takes place so let us see,” he said.

Tynsong said the intention of the NPP is very clear that it will form the government on its own in 2023. “Immediately after the general elections are over, we will form the government on our own,” he claimed.

Stating that the NPP’s fight is with everybody, the deputy chief minister said, “Don’t’ say the tough fight will be between UDP and NPP but the tough fight will be among the candidates of each and every constituency, it is like that. However, we will do well and will do better from both Khasi and Garo regions.”

Anti-incumbency 

Tynsong also ruled out that anti-incumbency will affect the performance of the NPP in 2023 as he cited that the NPP-led MDA is the only government which dared to take bold decision to resolve the 50-year-old boundary dispute with Assam.

“Where is the question of anti-incumbency…I don’t see any anti-incumbency against the present government led by the NPP and you have also seen for 50 years now nobody dares to take the border issue where we did it. I think that the people themselves realized that the NPP-led government is the only government which in spite of so many challenges still took up this issue of life and death of the state of Meghalaya,” he said.

Resolving remaining 6 areas of difference

Asked if the Meghalaya and Assam can resolve the remaining six areas of difference before the elections, Tynsong however said, “That we don’t know but decision is very clear next we will go for the second phase. Immediately the second phase will start and both the chief ministers will sit down after Independence Day and again reconstitution of the regional committees will take place.”

Mohendro Rapsang

On speculations that suspended Congress MLA from West Shillong Mohendro Rapsang is likely to join BJP despite having an intention to join the NPP, Tynsong however said, “These are just rumours and I have nothing to say but the rest you ask the owner where he wants to join.”

He said Rapsang and other MLAs will never disclose right now as to which party they will join due to fear of disqualification.

MDA govt report card

Meanwhile, Tynsong also informed that the NPP will come up with a report card on the achievements of the MDA government. “Just wait, we will also do something where people will know black and white that yes this is what the NPP led government has done and again going to be done if again elected to power,” he added.