Tynsong asks people of Sohiong to reject idea of ‘dual post’, allow Samlin to become an ambassador of development

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaFebruary 19, 2025

National People’s Party (NPP) state president and deputy chief minister Prestone Tynsong on Wednesday asked the people of Sohiong constituency not to encourage the idea of holding “dual post” and instead to vote for the party candidate Samlin Malngiang so that he can become an ambassador of development for the constituency after elections to the KHADC, which will be held on February 21.

Addressing an election campaign at Sohiong village, Tynsong said that the people of Sohiong have regretted committing a mistake to elect representative in 2023.

“Therefore, I am confident that we will not make the same mistake again and that we will extend our full support to Samlin Malngiang because we should not allow the same person to hold the posts of both MLA and MDC,” he said while referring to the UDP MLA Synshar Kupar Roy Lyngdoh’s decision to contest the ADC elections.

“It is not that we are attacking anyone but I will tell you in 2023, I won as MLA of Langkyrdem constituency and in 2004, I also won MDC as Langkyrdem-Laitkroh. In those five years that I was MLA and MDC and also as minister, I understand that it is not easy to strike a balance. It was after that I decided to never hold any dual posts again,” he said adding “I recalled that Samlin also after winning the MLA election (in 2018) decided to hand over the responsibility to another person. This is the right thing to do.”

“They may come up with many justifications but it will be meaningless and pointless. Please don’t make mistakes because if your MLA is admitted in the hospital, don’t let it be that MDC also will be hospitalized,” he added.

Urging the people to vote for Samlin Malngiang, Tynsong said that the people of Sohiong should be like the people of Garo Hills, who are wise enough to vote for development.

“Garo people are very intelligent when it comes to electing their leaders. They would first look at the party, which is leading the state government. The NPP has won with a comfortable majority in the recently held bye election (at Gambegre) because people want development and they know that it is only the ruling party which can fulfil that. So let me ask the people of Sohiong, don’t you want that the pipe of development be extended to your constituency, if yes, then give us the mandate. The UDP no doubt is a coalition partner but the NPP is leading the government,” he stated.

Further, the NPP chief also predicted that the other political parties will have to support the NPP in both the KHADC and JHADC after February 24.

“We will get a majority to form the ECs in both KHADC and JHADC and the other parties will have to support us again. Just see after February 24, they will come to support us.”

“Therefore, I want to see Samlin Malngiang win the elections because he will also become an ambassador of development for the constituency to ensure development flows from the secretariat to your constituency,” Tynsong further assured.