SHILLONG/ NONGSTOIN/ JOWAI: Nine by-poll candidates, including a standby one from the BJP, filed their nomination papers in the city, Nongstoin and Jowai on Thursday.
Independent candidate Pret Mawlong and BJP candidate Kyntiewborlang Syiemlieh filed nominations from Nongspung-Sohiong MDC constituency.
The BJP also filed the nomination for a standby candidate, S. Cleverson Roy Syiemlieh, from the same constituency. Two more BJP candidates, Hubert Marbaniang and Mamiry Nongkhlaw, filed nomination papers from Laban-Mawprem and Nongkrem constituencies, respectively.
Fedrick Joplang Lynshiang of the UDP and Edarstar Lyngdoh Nongbri of KHNAM filed nomination from     Laban-Mawprem and Nongkrem, respectively.
In Nongstoin, Kimfa Marbaniang, a Congress veteran who lost in the last two elections in 2013 and 2014 by a small margin against his close rival KP Pangniang, filed his nomination paper on Thursday before assistant returning officer PD Sangma.
Marbaniang was accompanied by former MDC Stormding Thongni, his family members and supporters.
Marbaniang sounded confident about his win while speaking to the media. He cited lack of experience and blamed the party organisation for his past setbacks.
“I’m deeply concerned about the lack of developmental facilities in Rambrai. The road condition has turned from bad to worse and if elected, I will change everything,” said the Congressman when asked about his agenda in the district council by-poll.
Marbaniang said the electorate in Rambrai-Jyrngam in West Khasi Hills “will play a decisive role” in the upcoming by-poll.
In the assembly election in 2013, HSPDP candidate KP Pangniang defeated Marbaniang from Rambrai-Jyrngam by 1,869 votes. In the KHADC election in 2014, Pangniang defeated Marbaniang by a margin of 1,247 votes.
In Jowai, only one of the four candidates from 1-War Constituency filed nominations on Thursday. The others are expected to file their papers from Friday onward.
UDP candidate Firstborn Manner of Tarangblang filed two sets of nomination papers on Thursday in Amlarem. He was accompanied by district UDP president Moonlight Pariat, UDP MDC Violet Lyngdoh and his supporters.
Former JHADC chief Lamdibok Sumer, a Congress candidate, BJP’s S. Kyndait and Independent Lotsing Lakuna will file their papers on Friday.
