By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Despite three major political parties in Meghalaya ‘merging’ with other political outfits, the former have kept their original character and continued to carry on with party activities in the State.
Three political parties — NCP, BJP and KHNAM — initially suffered setbacks after the exodus of leaders and supporters from the party fold, but these parties say that they are growing stronger.
Despite PA Sangma and his band leaving the NCP and forming the National People’s Party on August 4 this year, the NCP sources said that this has not affected them much.
An NCP leader on Friday said that the party was committed to field as many candidates as possible.
The NCP is planning to contest in at least 40 constituencies of the State and will release the list of the candidates in three phases.
The party sources said that several aspirants are flocking to get the party tickets and there is no dearth of candidates.
Despite the formal merger of KHNAM with the UDP on December 13, 2011 initiated by the then party president Paul Lyngdoh, the original party is gearing up for the polls under the leadership of Pyndapbor Saiborne.
When contacted, Saiborne said that only some supporters of KHNAM from Jaiaw along with Paul Lyngdoh had joined UDP.
“We are intact and KHNAM is still a registered party with the Election Commission,” the KHNAM president said. The party is planning to put up at least 12 candidates in the upcoming elections and the list will be finalized by January next.
In July, KHNAM had released the first list of candidates who included Saiborne (Mawlai) Adelbert Nongrum (Shillong North) and Handar Wanniang (Mawkyrwat).
Another party which is on a revival mode is the BJP which had its worries after its lone legislator, AL Hek, quit the party and joined the Congress on July 6, 2009. There was declaration on the part of Hek and the Congress that the BJP has ‘closed its shop’ in Meghalaya, but the reality is that it is preparing to field as many candidates as possible in the coming election.
The party general secretary Dipayan Chakraborty does not consider Hek’s exit from the party as a major setback.
The party will also soon finalise its candidate to contest from the Pynthorumkhrah constituency, he added.