Shillong, Feb 18: Popular phawar singer Bankerlang Kharkongor opened the Trinamool Congress (TMC) meeting in Umlyngka under Mylliem constituency on Saturday.
The crowd cheered to his campaign song in support of the TMC candidate, Gilbert Guidingstar Laloo. In fact Kharkongor was a bigger crowd-puller than TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee. While the members in the audience danced to the tunes of Kharkongor and sang along with him, there was not much cheer during Banerjee’s speech.
“The song (Ha i bah Gilbert Laloo
Nion nion nion nion niom, ha shijur ki syntiew) is about the candidate only asking the people of mylliem constituency to support him and TMC. I am performing for other parties too,” he told Meghalaya Monitor. The singer rushed to Mairang for another political party meeting.
Supporters in the front rows were seen holding placards that said ‘Goodbye to inept NPP-led party’ and ‘Time to end PP’.
Banerjee started his speech by appreciating Laloo for speaking in Khasi. “You asked my permission to speak in the local language. But you should be proud when you speak in your language. I will walk extra mile to learn the local language and next time I come I will be speaking in your language,” he said.
He made his effort to connect with the crowd, a majority of which was local population. Talking about TMC’s party symbol, he said, ” Do you see Sijurki syntiew (the twin flowers)?” as the crowd cheered.
There was a translator too.
Banerjee’s address was similar to his speech at Police Bazar on Friday. He slammed the NPP for not giving the state medical colleges and for being “spineless” on the issue of Mukroh violence.
