SHILLONG: UDP’s member of district council H.S Shylla has said the State should get a chief minister from Shillong in 2018 and not Ampati.
Shylla, while talking about the political equations in the State before the 2018 Assembly elections, said UDP, HSPDP and KHNAM should work together as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will take time to gain foothold in Meghalaya.
At the same time, he said an alliance of regional parties can be formed through sacrifices and so he would not contest from Nongkrem.
The regional alliance is a necessary change to end corruption and serve the indigenous people, Shylla said.
“We are hopeful that a chief minister would emerge from Shillong and not from Ampati. We have seen that most of the schemes are given to Ampati,” he added.
Enumerating the problems in the State, like unemployment and poverty, the UDP leader said, “Doing away with red beacons will not do… Politicians should lead simple lives.”
Stressing on fair election for clean governance, Shylla asked MLAs not to use money power. “MLAs are not ATM counters. Elections conducted should be fair which will then usher in clean governance.”
Shylla said he would not contest from Nongkrem and make way for HSPDP president Ardent Basaiawmoit, who also represents the constituency.
Stating that the Congress party has been ruling the state for decades, he told reporters, “We are not against any political party (Congress or BJP) but in Meghalaya the BJP will take time to strike roots.”
