Shillong, October 28: Chief Minister and NPP national president Conrad K. Sangma on Wednesday welcomed former UDP legislators Paul Lyngdoh and Renikton Lyngdoh Tongkhar into the party. He said humility, teamwork and putting people first are what set the NPP apart.
A third former UDP legislator, Nujorki Sungoh, was also welcomed but will formally join in a few days as he is undergoing medical check-ups, Sangma said.
The induction took place in the presence of Deputy Chief Ministers Prestone Tynsong and Sniawbhalang Dhar, along with party leaders and workers.
‘Not new’
“I welcome Paul, Renikton and Nujorki and I don’t want to call them new because we have a very old history. The word new is not doing justice to the kind of friendship and relationship we have had. Today is a very important day for us as a party,” Sangma said.
Recalling the party’s early days, he said he had found a photograph dated August 24, 2012, from the NPP’s former office in Laitumkhrah, among his collection of some 15,000 old pictures. “I saw Bah Renik in that crowd picture from 14 years ago, the day NPP was formed in the state. Calling him a new member is not doing justice,” he said.
“This is not just about the party getting stronger. I am feeling very light and happy to see people I enjoyed working with. We think alike and want to do things in a similar manner,” he said.
‘We fight inside the room’
Sangma admitted that party leaders do not always agree but said differences are settled in private.
“There are many issues we don’t agree on, there are times we fight, but we fight inside the room, not on the ground or in the press. We agree to disagree and say — fine, let us do it. That understanding makes any organization strong,” he said.
He said decisions in government come down to one question. “Bah Prestone may not agree with me, Bah Sniawbha may not agree, I may not agree, but we ask — is it good for people? If yes, we do it. We don’t have much ego. Humility is important in politics and in any organization,” he said.
Sangma said he was ready to put up posters and flags himself if no one else was there to do it, even as Chief Minister and party president. “That is the spirit I want in every member. Never think anything is too small when serving the party and people,” he said.
‘We chose pressure’
Speaking about the demands of public life, Sangma said leaders have no right to complain.
“We have chosen pressure as our life. Sometimes I get tired, when a major issue or pressure group comes to give me a headache, I remember I chose this and cannot complain. We sit in the chair because we have to take that pressure, because we may be woken up at 2 am for an emergency,” he said.
“When you work for a party, you commit yourself to the service of the people. That should guide you in every step. If that guides you, you will never make mistakes,” he added.
Note: Your copy gives the old office location as “Lachumiere”. I changed it to Laitumkhrah, but I’m not sure that’s right. Please check it and restore Lachumiere if that’s what he said.
