SHILLONG : Deputy Chief Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar has said the NPP and BJP are separate political parties with different ideologies, maintaining that their cooperation is primarily aimed at ensuring development for Meghalaya.
Dhar was speaking while campaigning for NPP candidate Dr DRL Nonglait at Nongspung during a meeting of the NPP Mawphlang block.
Responding to the perception that the NPP and BJP are “bhai bhai”, Dhar said the two parties have different political ideologies and that the NPP works with the BJP because Meghalaya, as a small state, needs cooperation from the Centre for development.
“People say NPP and BJP are bhai bhai. That is not true. They are two political parties with different ideology. We work with BJP for development because as a small state we need the Centre,” Dhar said.
Dhar Appeals for Vote for Nonglait
Dhar urged voters not to be confused by political debates surrounding the alliance and said the Shillong Lok Sabha bypoll should be viewed separately from a general election.
He argued that electing Dr Nonglait would provide the state with a representative in Delhi who could raise Meghalaya’s issues with the Union government.
“Don’t be misled. This is a by-election. Dr Nonglait is the candidate of the party that rules the government. We need our own person in Delhi to raise state issues,” he said.
Cites Road Projects in South West Khasi Hills
Dhar also highlighted several road projects while responding to criticism over the government’s performance.
Referring to the Mawphlang-Balat-Ranikor road, he said residents in the Welloi-Ranikor belt had previously raised demands for a highway and claimed that more than Rs 400 crore had now been sanctioned for road works covering the Welloi-Balat-Umpung-Ranikor stretch.
He also cited the Nongstoin-Maweit road project, which he said had received a sanction of more than Rs 1,100 crore.
Dhar said the first and second 22-kilometre stretches, involving around Rs 160 crore, were almost complete. He also referred to a further Rs 400 crore allocation for the Nongstoin-Kulang-Nongjri road.
Dhar Rejects Allegation of Bias in Development Projects
Responding to allegations that the NPP government favours its own legislators’ constituencies, Dhar said projects worth less than Rs 1,000 crore had also been sanctioned in constituencies represented by UDP and HSPDP MLAs.
He also referred to his tenure as Transport Minister during the COVID-19 pandemic, when the government waived vehicle-related dues.
Dhar said around 1.7 lakh vehicles had defaulted, with total dues reaching approximately Rs 1,300 crore. He said the government calculated penalties of around Rs 150 crore and eventually waived Rs 850 crore after considering the potential impact on vehicle owners and their families.
“We don’t just speak, we act,” Dhar said.
Dhar Backs Nonglait for Nongspung-Lait Nongrim Road
Dhar also sought to project Dr Nonglait as a leader who would work on local infrastructure issues.
He said Nonglait had assured people that he would take up the Nongspung-Lait Nongrim road if elected.
Dhar contrasted this with what he described as leaders who make big promises but fail to deliver, saying Nonglait would focus on work rather than rhetoric.