Page 4 - Meghalaya

EC sends notice to minister for 'doling out money' in poll-bound Meghalaya

The Election Commission has issued a show-cause notice to Meghalaya minister Brolding Nongsiej for allegedly doling out money in his constituency, under the garb of a rural development programme, and thus violating the model code of conduct (MCC), officials said on Thursday. A social organisation had lodged a complaint with the returning officer alleging that a woman was seen accepting the money being given by the minister. Acting on the complaint, the returning officer of Mawthadraishan assembly constituency in West Khasi Hills district directed the candidate of the United Democratic Party reply within February 25 as to why action should not be taken against him. Elections to the 60-member assembly will be held on February 27. Votes will be counted on March 2.

Corruption of NPP-led govt in Meghalaya encouraged by BJP: Congress

Accepting Union Home Minister Amit Shah's accusation that the Meghalaya government is "one of the most corrupt" in the country, the Congress alleged that the BJP has encouraged such a state of affairs in the northeastern state. The ruling NPP has been riddled with corruption charges by its former allies, including the BJP, as also by opponents such as the Congress and the Trinamool Congress. Meghalaya's state Congress President Vincent Pala told PTI in an interview that he agreed that Union Minister Amit Shah was correct in saying that the Meghalaya government is one of the most corrupt in the country. Pala went on to claim that this has been encouraged by the BJP. The BJP was in the NPP-led coalition from its beginning in 2018, he pointed out. Addressing a poll rally in North Tura constituency, Shah had on February 16, said the BJP broke its alliance with the NPP before the elections in Meghalaya so that it can contest all 60 assembly seats and emerge stronger. Pala also claime

Don't allow people coming from outside to impose CAA, NRC: Mamata Banerjee

In a veiled attack on the BJP at an election rally in Meghalaya, West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday said her party will not allow people coming from outside to impose CAA and NRC on residents of the northeastern state. She also accused the Conrad Sangma government in the state of not undertaking development work in the state and being involved in the scandal. Don't allow people coming from outside to impose CAA, NRC on you, Banerjee said at the poll rally in Meghalaya. TMC can develop Meghalaya.change this government...nothing is here. Not a medical college, not a good health system for treatment, no development but the scandal is there, she said. Banerjee also appealed to people to vote for her party. Vote for TMC in Meghalaya, we will oust BJP from Delhi: West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee at a poll rally, she added.

Meghalaya speaker richest candidate, assets soared to Rs 146 cr in 5 yrs

The assets of Meghalaya assembly speaker Metbah Lyngdoh, the richest candidate to fight the assembly elections, increased by 68 per cent to Rs 146.31 crore in the last five years, according to a report. Lyngdoh, the chief of the United Democratic Party (UDP) who is re-contesting the February 27 polls from the Mairang seat, had declared assets of Rs 87.26 crore in the 2018 assembly elections, according to the report by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) and Meghalaya Election Watch. Sixty-eight people were elected to the 60-member Meghalaya assembly in the last five years. Besides the 60 elected in the 2018 elections, eight people were elected in bypolls. The report said it analysed the assets of 61 of these people who are candidates in this election. The average percentage growth in assets of these 61 re-contesting MLAs is 77 per cent, it said. Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma reported an increase in his assets, from Rs 5.33 crore in 2018 to Rs 14.06 crore -- a rise of 164

Presence of many parties to help NPP win: Meghalaya Dy CM Prestone Tynsong

Star campaigners of various parties who are coming to Meghalaya are not well-versed in the affairs of the state and the presence of several players in the electoral field will help the NPP win the February 27 election, Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong said. On the charges of corruption in the Conrad Sangma government by the BJP which snapped ties with the National People's Party (NPP) ahead of the assembly polls, Tynsong told PTI in an interview that the party did not complain of anything during the five years. With several opposition parties such as the BJP, Congress, Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the United Democratic Party (UDP) contesting in at least 48 seats in the election to the 60-member assembly, the NPP thinks the situation will help it. Asked whether the division of opposition votes will be of help to the NPP, Tynsong said, It will definitely be an advantage. As election fever grips Meghalaya, big leaders from various parties -- Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Unio

Meghalaya polls: Rahul Gandhi to address his maiden rally in Shillong today

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will be addressing his maiden election rally in poll-bound Meghalaya on Wednesday

BJP broke alliance in Meghalaya to contest all seats, become stronger: Shah

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday said the BJP broke its alliance with the NPP before the elections in Meghalaya so that it can contest all 60 assembly seats and emerge stronger. Addressing an election rally in the North Tura constituency, he appealed to the people to vote for the BJP, promising to end corruption in the state. "Due to mismanagement and corruption in the state, in 2022-23, the deficit was Rs 1849 crore. It's a huge amount for a small state like Meghalaya. As per an RBI report, Meghalaya is developing at the slowest pace in the country," he said. "Make BJP a strong party in the state and we will end corruption," he told the rally. The BJP, which was part of the NPP-led MDA government, is contesting all 60 seats in the February 27 elections. "We broke alliance (with NPP) in Meghalaya so that the BJP can contest all the seats and emerge as a strong party," he said. Listing the development initiatives taken by the Centre for the region, he said the PM-DevINE sch

Meghalaya govt denied permission for PM Modi's rally in Tura: BJP

BJP national secretary Rituraj Sinha on Sunday questioned the National People's Party govt in poll-bound Meghalaya for denying permission for holding a rally of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Tura.

Meghalaya man arrested for sharing video of EVM that showed votes go to BJP

A man was arrested in Meghalaya's West Garo Hills district for allegedly sharing a video on social media which purportedly showed that any button pressed on an EVM leads to a vote in favour of the BJP, Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) FR Kharkongor said on Saturday. The man, identified as Bolong R Sangma, had on February 16 shared the clip, alleging that EVMs were manipulated, he said. Sangma was arrested after the returning officer of Rongjeng assembly constituency filed a police complaint, he added. A case was filed against him under IPC section 171G, which deals with false statement in connection with an election, Kharkongor said. EVMs or electronic voting machines are tamper-proof and go to factory reset mode if any manipulation is attempted, he said, adding that numerous safeguards are present at every level.

Home Minister Amit Shah to address rallies in Meghalaya ahead of elections

Union Home Minister Amit Shah will visit poll-bound Meghalaya tomorrow and address two election rallies in Shillong

Not involved in denying PM Modi's rally, says Meghalaya CM Sangma

Meghalaya Chief Minister and National People's Party (NPP) supremo Conrad K Sangma on Monday asserted that neither he nor his party had any role in denying permission for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's election rally at the PA Sangma Sports Complex in Tura. The sports department has informed the West Garo Hills district authorities that permission cannot be given for the PM's rally there as construction debris may pose safety concerns. The saffron party, which last month snapped ties with ally NPP ahead of the February 27 assembly election, alleged that the ruling party were trying to stall a "wave of the BJP" in the state. In a statement issued here, the chief minister said the accusation made by the BJP was false as permissions for rallies are given by the Election Commission and the district administration is now a part of it. All permissions come from the side of the Election Commission of India. So, there is no say from NPP or my side. Dragging our name into it is completely .

VPP to review border pact with Assam if elected to power: Manifesto

The Voice of the People, a new political party in Meghalaya would review the inter-state boundary MoU signed with Assam and will root out corruption in the state, if elected to power in the February 27 assembly election, the party manifesto said. The Voice of People (VPP) was formed by former MLA Ardent Basaiawmoit. The party will root out corruption and would also institute CBI inquiry into the alleged scams and excesses of the National People's Party-led Meghalaya Democratic Alliance government, it said. Releasing the party's manifesto on Monday here, Basaiawmoit said the VPP would review the interstate boundary border agreement signed with Assam last year and would pressurise the Government of India to put the state under the umbrage of special protective provisions of Article 371 of the Constitution of India. "In order to safeguard the indigenous tribal cultures and customs, the party is committed to pursue and pressurise the Government of India for extension of the special ..

Polling postponed in Sohiong, Meghalaya after UDP candidate's death

Polling for Sohiong Assembly constituency of Meghalaya in the Feb 27 state elections has been postponed following demise of state's former Home minister and UDP candidate from the seat, HDR Lyngdoh

Not involved in denying permission to PM's rally in Tura, says Meghalaya CM

Meghalaya Chief Minister and National People's Party (NPP) supremo Conrad K Sangma asserted that neither he nor his party had any role in denying permission for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's election rally at the PA Sangma Sports Complex in Tura. The Sports department has informed the West Garo Hills district authorities that permission cannot be given for the PM's rally there as construction debris may pose safety concerns. The saffron party, which last month snapped ties with ally NPP ahead of the February 27 assembly election, alleged that the ruling party was trying to stall a "wave of the BJP" in the state. In a statement issued here, the chief minister said on Monday the accusation made by the BJP was false as permissions for rallies are given by the Election Commission and the district administration is now a part of it. "All permissions come from the side of the Election Commission of India. So, there is no say from NPP or my side. Dragging our name into it is completely .

Meghalaya to get film city if BJP wins polls, says MP Ravi Kishan

Actor turned BJP MP Ravi Kishan on Monday claimed that the BJP in Meghalaya will build a film city if the party is voted to power in the February 27 assembly election. Just as the party did in Uttar Pradesh, the BJP will do the same here, he said. "Since the youth of Shillong are immersed in music and art, the BJP will build a film city here if voted to power," he said. Kishan said it will create jobs for the youths in the state. "From support staff to soundman, to technician, to artists, to managers, a wide variety of job vacancies will be created in the state by the film city," he said. It will become a tool to showcase the beauty, diversity, culture and rich traditions of Meghalaya to the rest of the world.

Amit Shah to address election rallies in poll-bound Meghalaya tomorrow

Union Home Minister Amit Shah will visit poll-bound Meghalaya tomorrow and address two election rallies in Shillong

Situation changed, this time Meghalaya CM will be from BJP: Himanta Biswa

Exuding confidence in BJP's electoral victory in Meghalaya, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that the dynamics have changed and BJP will form the next govt in the northeastern state

Meghalaya polls: Songs, music to motivate voters for Feb 27 election

Of the total of 21,61,729 voters, the number of male voters in the state is 10,68,801 and that of female voters is 10,92,326

Earthquake of 3.9 magnitude hits Meghalaya's East Khasi Hills district

A mild earthquake hit Meghalaya's East Khasi Hills district on Thursday, officials said. The 3.9 magnitude earthquake took place at around 9:26 am, they said. Officials at the Regional Seismological Centre here said the epicentre of the earthquake was located in East Khasi Hills district at a depth of about 46 km underneath the earth's crust. State Disaster Management department officials said there was no report of any loss of life or damage to property due to the tremor.

People's trust in govt forced Mukul Sangma to leave Congress: Meghalaya CM

He termed Trinamool Congress leader Mukul Sangma as ungrateful that he chose to contest from Tikrikilla, while being an elected MLA from Songsak