SHILLONG: The State Executive Committee (SEC) of the National People’s Party (NPP) on Thursday confirmed that it would not contest the Shillong Parliamentary seat in the upcoming Lok Sabha election and stated that the party was in favour of a common candidate supported by all non-Congress parties.
The meeting also resolved that the party must work unitedly to ensure the defeat of the Congress in the upcoming elections.
Speaking to media persons later, NPP president Purno Sangma asserted that the party is seeking to win the Tura seat and has directed all its district units in Garo Hills to seek the opinion of all party workers and public on who should be the party’s candidate for the Tura seat.
Earlier, the party had stated that it would field sitting Lok Sabha member Agatha Sangma from Tura.
The NPP chief was hopeful that the 2014 Lok Sabha elections will bring about a change in New Delhi which would automatically ensure change in the Northeast region.
Speaking on the NPP’s dismal performance in the 2013 Assembly polls in Meghalaya, where the party managed to win only two seats, Purno said, “We could not perform well because of criminalization of politics and use of money power.”
Terming the will of the people as the most powerful thing in the world, Purno pointed to the results of the Delhi Assembly polls where people had opted for the party and not for the candidates.
Pre-poll consultation
with UDP
The NPP made it clear that the party would contest the upcoming elections to the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) and Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council (JHADC), adding the selection of candidates for the elections will also be carried out after consultations with other members of the MPF alliance, including the UDP.
A committee comprising of NPP state president WR Kharlukhi, former legislator ECB Bamon and Forward Lyngdoh has been formed to negotiate with other non-Congress parties on behalf of the NPP.
