SHILLONG: As many as eight sitting legislators, mostly from the Congress would formally join National Peoples Party on January 4.
Informing this here during a press conference, NPP State unit president, WR Kharlukhi said the sitting MLAs would join the party in a massive public rally likely to be held at Polo ground.
The eight legislators are : Siawbhalang Dhar (Nartiang), Comingone Ymbon (Raliang), Hopeful Bamon (Sutnga Saipung), Stephanson Mukhim (Amlarem), Prestone Tynsong (Pynursula), Remington Pyngrope (Mawkynriew), Rowell Lyngdoh (Mawkyrwat) and Ngaitlang Dhar (Umroi).
“We expect a crowd around 10000 during the rally,” Kharlukhi said. Meanwhile, the NPP has also finalised the name of Sounder Cajee as its candidate from South Shillong constituency while the name of Erwin Sutnga has also been finalised by the NPP as its candidate from North Shillong.
When asked for the sudden reason to allot ticket to Erwin Sutnga, Kharlukhi said that the party always looked at the winnability factor of the candidates and an assessment of the party had indicated that NPP can do well even in Shillong city.
The NPP got another boost on Wednesday when two Congress youth leaders from Ri Bhoi district, Pyndeplang Wahlang and Alfred Malai, joined the party.
Kharlukhi also said that the party would contest on at least 50 seats in the upcoming Assembly polls even as he added that the party would perform very well even in Garo Hills region of the State.
“I don’t think Congress will be able to save itself from the crushing defeats,” he said while referring to NPP’s massive wins in 2013 Lok Sabha polls from Tura followed by impressive win in the GHADC elections
The NPP candidate, Conrad Sangma was able to defeat Congress candidate Dikkanchi Shira by a huge margin of 2 lakhs in the by- election to Tura Lok Sabha elections, Kharlukhi said. He also said that the party would declare its full-fledged list of candidates by mid-January.
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