Shillong, Oct 7: The National People’s Party (NPP) is stronger than before and “not losing sleep” over BJP’s increased strength in the assembly, NPP leader and cabinet minister Wailadmiki Shylla said on Wednesday.
Shylla’s comment comes a day after all the 33 NPP MLAs attended a party meeting in Shillong on Tuesday night.
“Yesterday everyone was there and we are stronger than before,” he said.
He, however, said the party meeting was not an emergency meeting called to deal with any crisis in the NPP.
The meeting was being misread as an emergency huddle, he said.
“That meeting was nothing new. We have a practice where we meet once every three months. So yesterday’s meeting was part of that, where we sit among ourselves and discuss governance and other things,” Shylla said.
Asked whether the NPP is having sleepless nights over the BJP’s rise, Shylla replied, “No, I don’t think so.”
On the recent defections and political realignments, he said, “In politics, it keeps on changing, it is dynamic. So we don’t have much to say.”
Shylla pointed out that the movement of MLAs has remained within the ruling alliance.
Record road work in 7-8 years
The minister, meanwhile, said the government is fully concerned about unconnected villages and their impact on health access, but stressed that infrastructure push is already at an all-time high.
“I think in the last 7-8 years, we have taken up maximum construction of roads,” he said.
Reiterating the government’s intent, the minister said, “The government is fully concerned and we are trying our best so that all unconnected villages will be connected with proper roads.”
5-year plan to tackle HIV
The Health Minister also reacted to reported high HIV prevalence in Meghalaya, saying the government is fully focused on awareness and strengthening the treatment network.
“The government has approved a five-year plan,” he said.
“We are in the process to recruit more manpower and to open more ART centres where people can come and get treated,” he added.
The minister said the awareness drive launched earlier has started showing results.
He also informed about the plan for holding a youth festival by MACS to strengthen the fight against HIV.
