District Council polls
SHILLONG: The United Democratic Party on Tuesday released the third list of candidates with a total of nine names including those of sitting legislators Titosstarwell Chyne and Remington Pyngrope from Sohra and Mawkynrew respectively. Both Chyne and Pyngrope are also sitting MDCs representing the two constituencies respectively.
Besides the two sitting legislators, two women have also been named in the list. Banalari Khongwar has been named as the party candidate from Nongshken constituency while Rona Khymdeit has been selected to contest from Nongpoh. Both the candidates had unsuccessfully contested the 2013 Assembly elections in the State.
Other candidates whose names feature in the third list include Batskhem Marbaniang (Mawsynram), Robin K Raswai (Langrin), Braston Kharphuli (Mawphlang-Diengiei), Wankupar Syiemlieh (Sohiong-Nongspung) and Ryngkat Lyndem (Lyngkyrdem).
Speaking to newsmen, UDP State Election Committee (SEC) secretary Allantry F Dkhar said the party would release the names of the candidates for the remaining eight constituencies by Thursday.
He also informed that they would be releasing the list of candidates for the 29 seats in the JHADC in the next few days.
Meanwhile, the UDP on Tuesday justified the decision to award the tickets to sitting legislators for the district council elections, saying that the party has done so keeping in view the wishes of the people.
While announcing the list of its candidates which include the likes of sitting legislators Remington Pyngrope (Mawkynrew) and Titosstarwell Chyne (Sohra), Dkhar said that the legislators are ‘forced to contest’ the district council elections since the people of their area wanted them to contest the elections.
“The people are of the view that it would be good for the legislators to function as MDCs also,” Dkhar stated.
UDP legislator Jemino Mawthoh also justified the inclusion of sitting legislators in the list, saying that the party has not taken any decision against legislators contesting the district council elections.
Besides the UDP, the Congress, HSPDP and NCP have also awarded tickets to sitting legislators for the upcoming district council elections.