SHILLONG : NPP national vice-president and Deputy Chief Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar has urged voters in Sohryngkham to elect party candidate Dr DRL Nonglait in the upcoming Lok Sabha by-election, arguing that Meghalaya needs an MP who can work in coordination with the state government to secure development projects.

Campaigning for Nonglait at Sohryngkham, Dhar cited an incident from the tenure of a former MP, who had approached the Union Transport Minister seeking sanction for a road that had allegedly already been approved two months earlier.

According to Dhar, the incident reflected a lack of coordination between the former MP and the state government, resulting in the MP being unaware that the road had already received approval.

He said such disconnects could continue if voters elected an MP from the opposition who followed a different approach from the state government.

“What if you elect an MP who will only sit in the opposition? He will take a different path to Delhi and the Chief Minister will take a different path, despite both being from the same state,” Dhar said.

Pitching Nonglait as a suitable candidate, Dhar described him as mature, qualified and knowledgeable, adding that he would work with the government to promote development and protect the land and interests of the community.

He further said that if elected, Nonglait would have the support of the Chief Minister and two Deputy Chief Ministers in taking Meghalaya’s issues to the Centre.

Urging voters to rise above party affiliations in the by-election, Dhar said the election was about filling a vacant parliamentary seat following the death of the former MP and not about choosing a government.

“For our future, for the life and death of our state, in this upcoming MP election we should forget all parties and come under one flag to elect Dr Nonglait honourably so that we get development,” he said.

“It lies with you whether you want to send someone who will clash with the government or someone who is with the government,” he added.

Dhar also recalled his personal association with Sohryngkham, saying his family’s construction business had started from the village and that it had played an important role in shaping their lives.

He said this personal connection was one of the reasons he had made time to campaign in the constituency despite his busy schedule.

The Deputy Chief Minister also cautioned voters against being influenced by campaign songs and social media content without examining the candidates’ capabilities and qualifications.

Referring to the previous election, he alleged that many voters had been carried away by a political wave and campaign songs without properly knowing the candidates.

He urged voters to look beyond appearances and popularity and instead choose a candidate based on wisdom and the ability to represent the state.

Dhar appealed to voters to support Dr Nonglait and cast their votes in favour of the book symbol.