Five in poll fray against Sniawbhalang

JOWAI: Five individuals have so far declared they would contest next year’s Assembly elections from Nartiang constituency, currently represented by former Cabinet minister Sniawbhalang Dhar.
Former deputy commissioner of East Khasi Hills, Jopthiaw Lyngdoh, former member of district council (MDC) Draison Kharshiing – who lost the Assembly elections from Nongkrem in 2013, another former MDC of Ummulong, Marbud Kyndiah, and a political rookie Innocent Shadap, will contest against Dhar.
Dhar, who was recently dropped from the state Cabinet, will have a fifth opponent from his village, Wahiajer. A retired IAS officer, Jopthiaw Lyngdoh, who has been under treatment for the past three months, will start meeting people of the constituency in the next few days. He will attend the Independence Day celebration at Namdong and also the bullfight festival at Mynsngat on August 17.
Former Khanduli MDC Kharshiing has been organising meetings to gather supports from the people of the area.
According to sources, the sitting MLA Dhar has the support of Thombor Shiwat, the JHADC chief and the MDC of Wahiajer-Mukhla, Hermon Phawa. However, he is expected to lose the support of Ummulong MDC, Laitsing Shylla, as Jopthiaw is his brother in law.
Sources informed that Lyngdoh may become the strongest opponent of the sitting MLA in Nartiang constituency.