SHILLONG: Suspense continues over why the National People’s Party (NPP) chose to keep Ampati out of its ambit even as the party has sought applications for the remaining 23 seats in Garo Hills.
The NPP has received applications from aspiring candidates for 23 seats in Garo Hills except Ampati, a party source revealed on Monday.
However, the NPP leadership is tight-lipped on the matter and the speculation is that non-Congress political parties may prefer to put up a common candidate against Chief Minister Mukul Sangma, who currently represents Ampati.
When asked whether NPP will support BJP in Ampati, a party functionary said NPP has not decided to support any BJP candidate.
“We have not received any application for Ampati seat,” he said.
However, sources said that party is maintaining a stoic silence on who will contest from Ampati.
A party leader said that the suspense will be revealed at an appropriate time.
There are media reports that the chief minister will contest from two seats – Ampati and Songsak – and the aim of NPP is ensure his defeat in both the seats.
The party will meet towards the end of this month to finalise the candidates and the first list is expected to be released in November first week.
For Khasi and Jaintia Hills, the NPP on Monday began the process of distributing forms which will continue till October 25.
Eight aspiring candidates collected the forms on the first day.
On Monday, the NPP office at Lower Lachumiere was abuzz with activity as aspirants and their supporters made a beeline for the application forms.
Party sources informed that three aspirants collected forms for Mawshynrut while there were single applicants for Jirang, Nongpoh, Mawsynram, Ranikor and Rambrai seats.
“Though there were ten aspirants who came to take the form, only eight were given forms as two of them did not bring their documents,” party sources said.
