Shillong, March 14:The NPP is analysing the reason for its poor performance in Khasi- Ri Bhoi & Jaintia Hills region.
Only 8 party candidates won from the region.
The break up is East Khasi Hills (2) , Ri Bhoi (2) and Jaintia Hills( 4).
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Deputy Chief Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar said the party will analyse the reason for the poor show after the Assembly session.
“The results in Jaintia Hills are okay as we have already predicted to get between 4-6 seats. Similarly, in Ri Bhoi, we also predicted 1-3 seats but it was a little bit unexpected in Khasi Hills region,” he said.
Asked whether the anti-incumbency against the NPP was high in the Khasi Hills region, Dhar said, “It is difficult to say as we are yet to know the actual reason why lost many seats in Khasi Hills region.
The deputy chief minister does not believe that the NPP is not acceptable to the people of the Khasi Hills region.
“There are many factors. You know in Khasi Hills, there are so many parties–UDP, PDF, BJP, NPP, VPP. But it does not mean that the NPP is not accepted. For the NPP to get 26 seats in the whole state it is not a joke”, he added.
Taking exception to the recent protest to demand for a chief minister from Khasi-Jaintia region, Dhar said, “Demanding for a Khasi chief minister I think is totally wrong as we have to respect the mandate of the people. It is as simple as that.”
He said if the people want the chief minister to be from Khasi-Jaintia region, let them vote for one party from the region.
“Let them vote for one party from the Khasi side, simple as that. They can vote for UDP, for NPP if they want but they vote differently. What can we say,” he said.
Dhar admitted that the party’s prospects in few constituencies like Nongkrem and Mawlai were affected by the coming of the newly floated Voice of the People Party (VPP).
On the performance of the All India Trinamool Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party, Dhar said NPP leader said both the parties are yet to be accepted in the state.
“If the party can obtain 2-3 seats it means that they are not accepted by the people of the state,” he added.
Review of projects
Dhar said he will review on Wednesday all ongoing projects implemented by the department besides discussing on the relocation of the 342 families of Harijan Colony from Them Iew Mawlong.
“I will review all the ongoing projects including the smart city projects tomorrow,” Dhar told reporters.
The projects include Laitumkhrah market, Polo market, smart roads and others. “I will only know the physical and financial progress of these projects once I held the review meeting,” he said.
He said the Jowai town beautification project is still in progress.
“90 percent of the road project in the town is completed. As per report, the road will be completed in the next 10 days”, he added.
On the Harijan Colony issue, he said, “I will call a meeting at my level as urban minister. After that, the chairman of the high level committee will hold a meeting and we will take a call. Tomorrow, the meeting will be held at my level and after that we will sit as a state. We have to call them (Harijan Panchayat Committee) obviously. The Court has given sometime we have to see but we want to solve it at the earliest possible”, he added.
