Development is the only agreement between NPP and BJP-led NDA Govt: Prestone Tynsong

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaFebruary 12, 2025

National People’s Party (NPP) state president and deputy chief minister Prestone Tynsong on Tuesday said development for the state of Meghalaya is the only agreement between the NPP and the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre.

Addressing an election campaign to garner support for the sitting MDC Macdalyn S Mawlong at Umsning, Ri Bhoi District, Tynsong said, “Development for the state is the only agreement we had with the NDA government.”

Urging the people not to be misled by allegations that NPP is BJP, he said that after taking over the state government in 2018, the NPP has only one agenda and that is to serve the people of the state.

“After the NDA government had unseated the Congress in Delhi, the NPP under the leadership of its national president Conrad K Sangma has decided to be a partner of the NDA and not Bhai-Bhai as alleged. We put forth our development agendas before the NDA and because of this, the state is witnessing different projects sanctioned by the Centre. This is the only agreement we had and not more than that,” Tynsong clarified.

According to him, these projects are very important for the all-round development of the state and its people.

“Can you imagine very recently we have laid the foundation stone for the construction of a new secretariat at New Shillong township to decongest the old Shillong. The work for the project amounting to more than Rs 1200 crore will start very shortly,” the deputy CM said while taking a jibe at the opposition parties saying “I don’t think that they even dream of shifting the secretariat from old Shillong despite their existence for over 40-50 years.”

He assured that the new secretariat will be a landmark achievement of the state and its people and said, “I urge the people of the state especially the youth not to easily get swayed by misinformation but to judge the good works of the NPP. It was during our time that long pending projects like Crowborough now Vivanta Taj and five-star hotel – Marriot were completed. We have set up the IT centre at Mawdiangdiang and the Lariti Centre is one of the biggest in the North East – all these are for the benefit of the people.”

“Therefore, we need to partner with people from outside the state especially now we are also coming up with more five-star hotels and one of them will be set up in Ri Bhoi in order that the youth from the district who completed hotel management will get employment,” he added.

Further, Tynsong claimed that the present government has been able to generate so much employment for the people and said, “This was despite the stones being thrown at us but I tell you please continue to do that because the more you do it the more blessing we are getting for the people of the state. I urged the people of the state to continue to pray for the party so that we can bring the necessary changes in the interest and welfare of the people and the state.”

Appealing to the people of Umsning to vote for Sawkmie, the NPP state chief said, “You are very lucky because Ri Bhoi is an aspirational district and many projects are on the pipeline but I cannot disclose it here because if I do you will say that I come here to fool people. But I urge the youth of the district to work hard in your education because jobs are already waiting for you.”

He also highlighted the benefit that the people are getting from the Western Bypass saying, “Just from land compensation, over Rs 620 crore is being paid to land owners of the project.”

“Similarly, over Rs 5000 crore will be land compensation from the Express road project from Umiam to Malidor to Silchar. It is a Rs 25000 crore project of which over Rs 18000 crore will be invested only in Meghalaya. Survey is being carried out as we speak and we seek the cooperation of the village heads and other stakeholders,” Tynsong added.