Shillong, June 29: NPP leader James Sangma has no plan to contest Gambegre bypoll.
In a statement issued on Saturday, James said, “To clarify and settle the matter once and for all: I have had no intention of contesting in the Gambegre bye-polls. During party meetings and internal communications, I have clarified this stance as well, he said.
The bypoll was necessitated after the new Tura MP Saleng Sangma vacated his Assembly seat.
James, who had unsuccessfully contested the 2023 Assembly polls from Dadenggre, said he came across various newspaper articles, explicitly stating that there is division in the NPP and the family regarding the allotment of ticket for the Gambegre bypoll.
“It is shameful to see how news media organisations, some of which are nearly 80 years old and led by senior journalists, can publish articles on their front page and social media accounts without the slightest clarification on where they are getting their sources from or how they are privy to such information. I have been contacted by no one whatsoever for my stance and take on the matter, and it is just surprising to see blatant misinformation being printed in the media based on hearsay. I seriously urge such media organizations to check their sources before trying to insinuate and label people and organizations according to their own convenience which, to say the least smacks of mala fide intentions,” James added.
