Shillong, Nov 13 : Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma has urged the public to make use of the RTI Act to investigate into implementation of MLA and MP schemes in constituencies lacking development and held by opposition MLAs.
“Sometimes when I look at different constituencies, specially in the opposition areas, there is a lack of development. I doubt whether the MLA schemes are properly used or not in these constituencies,” Sangma said while addressing the induction of former Nongkrem legislator Lambor Malngiang to the National People’s Party (NPP) here on Thursday.
Urging residents of those areas to file RTIs, he said, “I hope the people of those areas will go ahead and file RTIs and find out how the MLAs are spending their MLA schemes… how the MPs are spending their schemes… Please file RTIs and find out.”
He lamented the absence of collaboration from certain opposition MLAs, noting that some political parties even refuse to meet or communicate with the chief minister, which hampers development efforts.
“In governance, there is always opposition and there is always ruling, but for the sake of the development of our people even opposition MLAs… will require help of the government… This is how democracy works, this is how governance works,” Sangma added.
He further asserted that elected representatives neglecting their responsibilities are accountable to their constituents, and while his government strives to push development, the lack of cooperation leaves it “handicapped.”
‘Opp doesn’t want people to see devp’
Meanwhile, the chief minister and NPP chief dismissed the recent barrage of criticism from opposition parties, saying, “nobody throws stones at a tree which does not bear fruits.”
“Today, the opposition sees and realizes the kind of work that we are doing to transform our state… they don’t want to accept the development and they don’t want people to accept or to see it. So rather than discussing on development issues or important issues of the state, opposition parties try to bring up different kinds of news to distract people, news that are not even true,” he said.
Refuting reports of purported rift between the two Deputy Chief Ministers – Prestone Tynsong and Sniawbhalang Dhar – he said he had spoken with Dhar, who confirmed that the reports were baseless.
“When this news came up, I called up Sniawbhalang Dhar and I asked him, are you angry? He said I don’t know where this news is coming from,” Sangma remarked.
Drawing on his long political career—beginning at age 12 when he delivered his first public speech—Sangma highlighted the party’s unity and commitment.
“In my entire political career spanning over 25 years, the way the NPP team works, I ensure there is no other team like it,” he said, emphasizing that differences of opinion are resolved internally and the party always presents a united front.
“We may have differences as I said but there is always the effort from our side that we reach out,” he said.
“…there is a goal which is much bigger than what I individually want to achieve which is what we want to do for the people of our state… that’s what drives our decision making and that is what takes us forward,” he said.
Meanwhile, he welcomed Lambor Malngiang and his supporters noting a deep, non‑political friendship rooted in mutual respect and a shared desire to serve the state.
“Our friendship is beyond politics, based on trust and a common desire to always serve the people of our state,” he added.
Sangma thanked the new entrants for placing faith in NPP’s vision of transforming Meghalaya and reaffirmed the party’s focus on development and inclusive growth for all constituencies.
