Sohiong polls: TMC candidate condemns rival’s statement
The Trinamool Congress (TMC) candidate from Sohiong constituency, Stoding Thabah today condemned the statement made by NPP candidate on religious leaders at one of his political campaigns.
Speaking to media persons, Thabah alleged that the NPP candidate Samlin Malngiang in one of his campaigns has made ill statements against religious leaders of one particular faith, stating that pastors never practice what they preached.
The TMC Sohiong Block condemns the statement made by the NPP candidate and at the same time demands public apology for his statement.
The TMC candidate expressed confidence in winning the Sohiong polls and he claimed that sympathy votes will not play a big role as the UDP candidate Synshar Kurbah was against late HDR Lyngdoh during the 2018 election.
AIM against gambling in melas
The Awakening Indian Movement (AIM) has sought the intervention of the deputy commissioner of East Khasi Hills district to ensure a blanket ban on gambling at melas being organized by different agencies.
Speaking to media persons, chairman of AIM Bansharai Marbaniang said that many people from other part of the country come to Meghalaya to host various kinds of melas, however these melas have games that encourage gambling with money which is detrimental and have a negative impact on the welfare of the people.
Marbaniang alleged that melas throughout the country are being held in order to provide entertainment to all citizens where they can experience happiness especially for children, students, and youth but at present melas in Meghalaya are being held with gambling which have detrimental and a negative impact on the welfare of the people.
“During our visit to the mela held at the Parking Lot outside Polo Ground in Shillong, the mela hosted various gambling activities with money and young people and students in uniform participated in various gambling games” said Marbaniang.
Marbaniang said that AIM is not against organizing melas in the state, however it stands against the act of gambling that is being held at the venues hence the AIM sought the intervention into this matter.
Govt proposing new name for SICPAC
Arts and Culture Minister Paul Lyngdoh today said the government is proposing a fresh name for the “SICPAC” or the Shillong International Centre for Performing Arts & Culture.
Lyngdoh told reporters that after conducting an inspection of the SICPAC building yesterday, they found a lot of gaps in what has been committed and what has been achieved.
“Accordingly, we will try to bridge the gaps beginning with the name of the project SICPAC which is not the best of names as we have a lot of sick units around so we will first start with the fresh name of the project as it is going to house the biggest theatre in NE India with a capacity of 1700,” he said.
“A lot of changes will have to be made and the handing over of the project to the state government has not happened till date despite the inauguration which happened last year,” he added.
Further, Lyngdoh said that the first move would be for the department to get the project handed over officially to the government of Meghalaya.
“We will be reviewing this matter at a meeting to which I will invite officers including the chief secretary because it is a very significant milestone for Meghalaya and we will bridge all the gaps in terms of agreements and works undertaken,” he stated.
Meghalaya polls 2023: NPP leading in 23 seats
Shillong, March 2 (IANS) Conrad Sangma’s National People’s Party (NPP) is maintaining a lead in 23 seats as the counting of votes got underway on Thursday for the February 27 Meghalaya Assembly polls.
Compared to the two seats they won in the 2018 elections, the BJP is ahead in almost 10 seats, according to the early trends in counting.
While the Trinamool Congress is leading in 10 seats, the Congress party, which was the single largest party in Meghalaya in the last Assembly election, is trailing. The grand-old party is leading in only nine seats.
LIVE UPDATES: Meghalaya Assembly Election Results 2023
The other regional party, the United Democratic Party (UDP), has been projected to win six seats.
Notably, UDP was a part of the NPP-led government in Meghalaya for the last five years, although the party has not forged an alliance with the NPP and fought the election separately.