UDP to finalise candidate on Wednesday

SHILLONG: The state election committee of UDP will meet on Wednesday at the residence of party president Dr Donkupar Roy to decide its candidate to contest the upcoming Lok Sabha polls from Shillong and Tura seats.

The meeting will also discuss the modalities for the district council elections due early part of next year.

“We are fully geared up for the upcoming elections and the scheduled meeting will further deliberate on the matter”, UDP working president Paul Lyngdoh said.

The probables from the UDP to contest the Shillong seat are sitting legislator Paul Lyngdoh, former Deputy Chief Minister Bindo M Lanong and the party general secretary RA Lyngdoh.

Though these three names are doing the rounds, the election committee of the party will take the final call.

Other regional parties, HSPDP and KHNAM have decided to support the candidature of PBM Basaiawmoit who will be contesting the Shillong seat under People’s Candidate Forum.The UDP is also undecided whether to field a candidate for Tura seat or to go for a pre-poll alliance with some like-mined parties.

“As far as Tura seat is concerned, we will consider the inputs from various party units of Garo Hills and most probably we will strike an alliance with like-minded parties,” Lyngdoh said.

Congress recently sent the names of probables for Shillong seat to the AICC.

Besides the sitting MP Vincent Pala, the party leaders, OL Nongtdu, Charles Pyngrope and John Kharshiing are vying for the party ticket to contest from Shillong.

Though BJP is keen to contest in both Shillong and Tura seats, the party is yet to shortlist the names.