SHILLONG: The election of the KHADC chairman, crucial to decide who would form the new Executive Committee (EC) in the Council, would be held on Thursday.
The Congress led KHUDA-II has fielded former KHADC Chief Executive Member Manstudy Nongrem while All Regional Party Alliance (ARPA) field Teilinia Thangkhiew, HSPDP MDC from Mylliem.
Congress is keeping its fingers crossed, pinning its hope on cross voting from among the MDCs of the regional parties to help their candidate win.
ARPA chairman Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit maintained that all the 17 MDCs of the alliance were united and confident of Thangkhiew being elected as the first ever woman chairman in the KHADC. “We are confident to win the election of chairman convincingly,” Basaiawmoit said.
At present, the Congress led KHUDA-II has the support of 10 MDCs of Congress, Mawhati independent MDC James Sylliang and Laban-Mawprem NCP MDC Sanbor Shullai.
In a major setback to Congress, however, Shullai would not be present at the time of election since he is hospitalized.
Worse, the State Government is yet to approve the name of Dr Adviser Pariong as the nominated MDC of the KHADC.
KHUDA-II chairman Pynshngain N Syiem said, however, that they were hoping to win the election to the post of the chairman despite not having the requisite numbers.
“Since it is a secret ballot anything can happen. We are hoping to get few of the votes of the MDCs of the regional parties,” Syiem said.
When asked if they would withdraw in the last minute if they felt they did not have the numbers, he said the question of withdrawing from the race in the very (last minute did arise.
“We have put up a candidate with the intention to fight till the last,” Syiem said.
He admitted that the absence of Shullai was a setback for Congress and also that the Government was yet approved the name of Dr Pariong as the nominated MDC.
Basaiawmoit said the Congress is playing a game just to create confusion among the regional parties MDCs by continuously saying that there might be cross voting from their side. “We would not be distracted to any strategy of the Congress party,” ARPA chairman added. ARPA has the support of HSPDP (7), UDP (6) and KHNAM (4) in the 30 member House whose effective strength would be 28.
