SHILLONG: Political parties in Meghalaya are unhappy with the Lok Sabha poll schedule announced by the Election Commission on Wednesday as they would be left with little time for preparation and campaigning for the elections. Polling in Meghalaya would be held after just 35 days.
UDP working president Bindo M Lanong said that the time for the political parties to prepare for the polls would be inadequate since elections would be held on April 9.
Stating that party had made up its mind to put up Paul Lyngdoh as the candidate for the Lok Sabha polls in the Shillong seat, he said that the upcoming election would give people an opportunity to bring a change not only in Meghalaya but even in the country. “It looks like Congress will be given a break and the mood of the people is to have a non-Congress government,” Lanong said.
BJP general secretary Dipayan Chakraborty said, however, that less time would not prove to be constraining factor for the party since BJP had started its preparations for the polls long time ago. He was hoping that the all-India leadership of the party would allow the state unit to put up a candidate in Meghalaya.
Chief Minister Dr. Mukul Sangma agreed that opposition parties would highlight the issue of corruption in the polls, but argued that corruption was an inherent problem in the country and the UPA government had taken several initiatives to address the issue. He said the AICC screening committee would decide on the party nominees from two seats of Meghalaya.
NPP leader James Sangma questioned the logic of putting Meghalaya into the early phase of polls. He said that the party would contest the election from Tura seat and hinted that NPP would not contest the Shillong seat but would extend support to the non-Congress candidate. The party candidate for Tura would be decided on shortly in a meeting of the party.
