GUWAHATI: The Trinamool Congress has unveiled its star campaigners for the Meghalaya election with party supremo and West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee and general secretary Abhishek Banerjee topping the list.
Mamata has already sounded the poll bugle for state polls in Meghalaya, vowing to oust the MDA government headed by chief minister Conrad Sangma.
Assembly elections in Meghalaya are scheduled to take place on February 27.
The star campaigners’ list of 40 TMC leaders, announced late on Saturday, include firebrand leader Mahua Moitra, MP Derek O’ Brien and former Meghalaya CM Mukul Sangma. West Bengal minister Manas Ranjan Bhunia also features in the list of star campaigners that includes eight party MLAs of Meghalaya. Mukul Sangma and Meghalaya TMC president Charles Pyngrope will file nomination on Monday, while 18 TMC candidates filed the nomination papers on Saturday.
Speaking to TOI, Bhunia, Meghalaya state in-charge of TMC, exuded confidence that TMC will gain majority. “We have a very strong team under Mukul Sangma and Charles Pyngrope in Meghalaya. The duo will bring the change in Meghalaya with the help of the people of the state, our supreme leader Mamata Banerjee and AITC general secretary Abhishek Banerjee,” he said. TMC has not yet declared the chief ministerial candidate in Meghalaya.
Bhunia added that there is enormous support for TMC, for better economy, growth and creating jobs for the employed. “This is an election for change. We are heading in a positive direction with the hope of forming the government with majority,” Bhunia said, adding that Meghalaya state leaders of TMC will decide on whom to take on board if an alliance becomes necessary post-election.
He said TMC’s major thrust, if voted to power, will be to make Meghalaya an education hub, transform the tourism sector, resolve the interstate border disputes and create a peaceful-harmonious atmosphere.
Mukul Sangma, leader of the opposition in Meghalaya assembly, is spearheading a marathon campaign in the hilly state where TMC has emerged a major contender for the ruling National People’s Party (NPP).
In January, Mamata Banerjee kicked off the Meghalaya campaign at a mass public rally in Mendipathar, North Garo Hills district, where Trinamool leaders, including Abhishek Banerjee, dared to oust the “corrupt government”. The NPP, however, tagged TMC as an “outsider party” in Meghalaya.
TMC, the principal opposition party in the state, has put the ruling NPP on thin ice in its bastion, Garo hills, from where both Conrad and Mukul are contesting the polls.
Mukul on Saturday launched a scathing attack on the NPP-led MDA government for making the lives of the people of Meghalaya “a misery” through “hollow promises and undelivered claims”.
TMC has fielded candidates in 57 out of 60 seats in Meghalaya.
