Tura, Oct 23: The opposition All India Trinamool Congress or TMC has claimed that the battle to wrest Gambegre assembly seat in the upcoming bye-election is a direct fight with the National People’s Party, and not the Congress.
The political heavyweights in the battle for Gambegre began emerging from Wednesday, with All India Trinamool Congress leader and MDC Sadhiarani M Sangma becoming the first candidate from a major party to file her nomination papers.
Wife of Zenith M Sangma, a former minister and legislator of Rangsakona, Sadhiarani Sangma told waiting presspersons outside the Returning Officer’s office that Congress is out of the picture when it came to a direct contest.
“The fight is squarely between us (AITC) and the ruling NPP which is fielding the chief minister’s wife. The Congress presence is not there. Majority of Congress workers and leaders have also joined us,” said Sadhiarani M Sangma.
The seat fell vacant after Congress legislator Saleng A Sangma resigned following his election to Parliament as the new Tura MP.
Sadhiarani is contesting Gambegre assembly seat for a third straight time. She lost the last two polls to Saleng Sangma.
But the Trinamool leader says development has failed to reach the people of Gambegre and getting roads into the constituency will be her top priority.
“More than fifty percent of Gambegre is without any proper roads. To get the sick to hospitals is a big challenge due to lack of roads. At times the patients have to be taken out of the ambulance and carried on foot just to reach the hospital,” says Sadhiarani Sangma.
“My confidence stems from the love and support I continue to receive from the people of Gambegre who have reposed their faith in me,” says Sadhiarani Sangma exuding confidence in the belief “third time lucky”.