SHILLONG: The young Turks of NPP and HSPDP have to fight it alone in the upcoming Assembly polls without their mentors to prove their worth.
The year 2018 will be for both NPP and HSPDP to establish supremacy beyond and without the guidance of their leaders Purno A Sangma and Hoping Stone Lyngdoh, respectively, who breathed their last within 
the current term.
While NPP veteran and former Tura MP Sangma (68) died of cardiac arrest on March 4, 2016, HSPDP supremo Lyngdoh (86), representing Nongstoin constituency, passed away on September 26, 2015.
In place of Purno, his son Conrad Sangma was elected as the Tura MP while late Hoping’s close associate Diosstarness Jyndiang secured the Nongstoin seat that was held by the late leader for several years.
While Conrad assumed the office of NPP national president following the demise of his father, the new entrant in HSPDP, Ardent Basaiawmoit, was elected as HSPDP president.
Basaiawmoit had contested for the first time in 2008 from Nongkrem constituency on a UDP ticket and later in 2013 polls, he chose HSPDP.
Conrad, however, did not change any party in his career and followed in the footsteps of his father to lead the NPP.
However, after the death of stalwarts like Sangma and Lyngdoh, there is heavy burden on Conrad and Ardent to lead their respective parties to victory in the absence of their late leaders.
State political leaders, who were close to Purno and Hoping said though the new leaders will have a tough time in the absence of the late leaders, who knew how to campaign and win the polls, the legacy of these leaders will help the new crop of politicians to influence the voters.
They said charismatic leaders like Purno and Hoping, who had many followers, single handedly worked to boost their respective parties and had a say in the political formations in the State.
“Definitely, the names of both Purno and Hoping will resound in the 2018 polls which will help the prospects of both the parties,” a political observer said.
HSPDP has already entered into a pre-poll alliance with UDP to secure the maximum seats in the 2018 polls.
On the other hand, NPP is expanding its network in Khasi Hills besides its bastion Garo Hills.