By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: KHNAM on Monday released its first list of candidates for the State Assembly election due in 2013.
According to the list, the party president Pyndapborthiaw Saiborne will contest from Mawlai, while Adelbert Nongrum, who is the general secretary of the party, will try his luck from Shillong North.
Besides Saiborne and Nongrum, the party put up Handar Wanniang from Mawkyrwat constituency.
While releasing the list, Saiborne said the party would release the second list in October.
“At the moment, we are planning to contest from ten constituencies. Due to the party’s pathetic performance in the last two Assembly elections, we have decided to contest from lesser number of constituencies this time,” he said,
In the 2003 Assembly election, he informed that the party had contested from 22 constituencies and could win only two seats.
In 2008, after contesting from 18 constituencies, the party could win only one seat.
Replying to a query, he said so far we have received around 11 to 12 applications from ticket aspirants.
“The party has assigned its observers to look into various aspects including the winnability of the person before allotting ticket to him or her,” Saiborne said adding that the poll manifesto would be released in December.
He said the party would emphasize on introduction of inner line permit to check problem of influx and early settlement of the inter-State boundary dispute with Assam.
When asked about the fate of the party which is pending before the Election Commission (EC), he said there was a hope of revival of the party despite the representation of the party’s former president Paul Lyngdoh to the EC to derecognize the party.
Paul Lyngdoh, and his supporters officially merged with the UDP on December 12 last year.
“We are confident that the party would continue to exist since it is a registered party,” Saiborne said
Referring to September 12, 1977 ruling of the Supreme Court relating to the dissolution of the APHLC, the KHNAM leader said the apex court had ruled against the decision of the EC to dissolve the APHLC.
It may be recalled that former Chief Minister late Captain Williamson Sangma had dissolved the APHLC with two-third majority to merge with Congress on November 16, 1976.
But leaders like former Chief Minister Late DD Pugh and former Union Minister PR Kyndiah filed a joint petition in the Supreme Court against the dissolution of the party by the EC. On the basis of this SC ruling, he said that the party is hoping to retain its identity.