Ardent sees rise of regional parties in 2018

SHILLONG: The 2018 Assembly elections will see the rise of regional parties and no national party will be able to form the government in the State, HSPDP president Ardent Basaiawmoit said on Monday.
Addressing a large gathering at Laitkor, Basaiawmoit said, “There will be no Congress, no BJP government. We hope that regional parties will form the government only if there is understanding among them.”
Referring to some of the controversial central laws, Basaiawmoit said only regional parties can understand the way of life in the State whereas parties from the plains (the Congress and BJP) will not understand.
Against the Citizenship Bill
The leader pointed out that the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016, which will make illegal migrants belonging to different groups eligible for citizenship of India, will lead to influx.
“There will be a time when they (the illegal migrants) will come to Smit and Nongkrem,” he said.
Highlighting the issue of landlessness in the State, he informed that there are over 24 per cent of people who are landless. HSPDP, if voted to power, will legislate strong laws to protect the interest of minorities.