SHILLONG: The National People’s Party (NPP), which has just two MLAs in the current Assembly, has emerged as a favourite destination for many ticket seekers, including legislators, ahead of the 2018 Assembly polls.
Political observers feel that while the ruling Congress should have been the attracting force, NPP, which is projected as an alternative to the Congress, has caught the attention of voters and leaders alike.
Though BJP was expected to give a tough fight to the Congress besides the new UDP-HSPDP coalition and the fresh entrant PDF, NPP has become more powerful, sources said.
NPP state president WR Kharlukhi admitted that many, including prominent legislators from the Congress, are flocking to the party.
“It is a good signal for us and we are forming the next government,” he said.
He also confirmed the entry of four Congress legislators – Rowell Lyngdoh, Prestone Tynsong, Sniawbhalang Dhar, and Ngaitlang Dhar – and two Independents, Stephanson Mukhim and Hopeful Bamon, to the party.
According to political observers, what made the difference is that NPP decided not to have any pre-poll alliance with BJP that had courted controversy over issues related to cow slaughter rules.
NPP leader and legislator from Songsak Nihim Shira said the party is expected to get maximum number of legislators in the 2018 polls.
Though the Congress is still claiming that it will form the next government, there is scepticism over such claims in the context of people’s disenchantment towards various policies of the government.
NPP, which is gearing up for the polls, has already completed the process of inviting applications from Garo Hills region, while the meeting of party’s Regional Election Committee for Khasi-Jaintia Hills held on Tuesday decided that ticket aspirants, who wanted to contest from NPP, can collect application forms from the office of the party at Lachumiere from October 18 to 25.
