SHILLONG: Pathaw, which means pumpkin in Khasi, can become the most sought after vegetable in Mawlai constituency this election season.
Teibor Pathaw, the candidate for the People’s Democratic Front (PDF), is all set to face sitting UDP MLA Embhahlang Syiemlieh in the 2018 polls. Pathaw was chosen during a zonal committee meeting held at Mawlai Mawdatbaki in which leaders of the party were also present with over 500 people attending the meeting.
Pathaw, listed as a number of activities he wished to take up if people elect him starting with opening a charitable trust to assist the poor and the needy, the Mawlai Youth Volunteer Organisation, Youth centre in Mawlai where counsellors will be deputed, also to coach youth preparing for different examinations.
“If elected I will create Mawlai corpus fund for poor families. As an MLA I will bring in MLA, MP and central schemes to develop the constituency,” he said.
On a lighter note, the PDF leaders took the literal meaning of Pathaw in Khasi to denote a political turnaround in Mawlai politics.
“I thought that Jadoh (Khasi rice delicacy mixed with meat) might go well with pathaw (pumpkin). I want the people to consume ‘pathaw’ (pumpkin) in 2018,” Pathaw said leaving the audience in splits.
Meanwhile, Ivanlumlang Marbaniang, president of the party said, “The party has its own ideology and objectives.
The party is getting ripe as it is 6 months 19 days old.”
General secretary of the party Auspicious Lyngdoh Mawphlang said, “If PDF comes to power, we will empower the poor and the needy. We will call farmers to discuss on the agricultural policy. We will call youth to assist in framing the youth policy.”
Pathaw unsuccessfully contested 2013Assembly elections as an independent candidate and came second during the 2014 District Council elections when he contested from Congress party.
For the 2018 elections, Pathaw will fight against sitting Congress MDC Process T. Sawkmie, Sarita Nongpiur, wife of late Founder Cajee who will contest as an independent candidate.
