SHILLONG: The National People’s Party (NPP) has finalised the names of Sounder Cajee and Erwin Sutnga for contesting the 2018 elections from South Shillong and North Shillong, respectively.
When asked about the party’s sudden decision to allot ticket to Sutnga, NPP state president WR Kharlukhi said on Wednesday the party always looks at the winnability factor of candidates and an assessment indicated that it can do well even in Shillong city.
Kharlukhi, who was addressing a press conference on Wednesday, said eight legislators, including Congress veterans Rowell Lyngdoh who represents Mawkyrwat, will join the party during a public rally at Polo Grounds on January 4.
Others who will join the party next week are Sniawbhalang Dhar (Nartiang), Comingone Ymbon (Raliang), Hopeful Bamon (Sutnga Saipung), Stephanson Mukhim (Amlarem), Prestone Tynsong (Pynursla), Remington Pyngrope (Mawkynrew) and Ngaitlang Dhar (Umroi).
“We expect a crowd of around 10,000 at the rally,” Kharlukhi said.
NPP got another boost on Wednesday when two Congress youth leaders from Ri Bhoi, Pyndeplang Wahlang and Alfred Malai, joined the party.
Kharlukhi also said the party would contest at least 50 seats in 2018 and sounded confident about NPP’s performance in Garo Hills.
“I don’t think the Congress will be able to revive itself from the crushing defeats,” he said while referring to NPP’s massive wins in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls from Tura followed by an impressive win in the GHADC elections.
“The NPP candidate, Conrad Sangma, defeated Congress’s Dikkanchi D Shira by a huge margin of 2 lakh in the by-election to Tura in May 2016,” Kharlukhi said.
He also said the party would declare its full list of candidates by mid January.
