Shillong, Nov 4: One of the reasons that the National People’s Party (NPP) confident about winning Gambegre bypoll slated for November 13 is that it’s a bypoll, and not general election.
“There is a difference between general election and bye-election. In general elections, everyone is uncertain about who will form the next government. When people vote, they think about which party will come to power and consider who to support accordingly,” said cabinet minister AT Mondal.
Expressing optimism about the NPP’s victory, he cited the “trend” of ruling parties often winning the bypolls.
“The trend shows we are winning,” said Mondal.
“In recent bye-elections, we have seen that the party in power usually wins because people want development,” he said, adding, “It’s not a matter of guesswork about who will form the government; it’s already in place, and people vote based on that.”
However, he said the victory is not a “foregone conclusion” and that the party had to work hard and engage with the people to convince them that we can deliver better service.”
“Our candidate is very proactive and understands the ground realities,” he said about the party candidate Dr Mehtab Chandee A Sangma, who is also the wife of chief minister Conrad K Sangma.
On the possible challenges posed by the Trinamool Congress (TMC) candidate Sadhiarani M Sangma, Mondal said, “That needs to be assessed. Our focus is on our candidate and her win.”
Sadhiarani, the sitting MDC from Dengnakpara and wife of former minister Zenith Sangma, contested from Gambegre in 2023 assembly election when she was narrowly defeated by Congress’ Saleng A Sangma by 2,871 votes.
Saleng was elected to the Lok Sabha in this year’s parliamentary elections, necessitating the bye-election to his Gambegre seat. The Congress has fielded Saleng’s close aide Jingjang M Marak for the bypoll.
The other prominent candidate is BJP’s Tura MDC and state BJP vice-president Bernard N Marak besides several independent candidates being in the race.
The polling is scheduled for November 13 and counting will be held on November 23.
