Pointsman

Dr Magufuli, who is seeking a second term as president, rooted for Dr Ackson, revealing how he had settled on the former deputy speaker as his 'pointsman' to lead his administration's development agenda for Mbeya City.

He was the grand old party's pointsman for building consensus on key issues with other parties and leaders.

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma, who is also the NPP supremo, along with the saffron party’s pointsman in the northeast Himanta Biswa Sarma, also played an active role in defusing the situation.

Earlier, Madhav, who is the party’s pointsman for Jammu and Kashmir, had urged the Election Commission to hold polls in the state this year.