SHILLONG: With elections scheduled for February, parties are gearing up to declare their candidates.
General Secretary of the United Democratic Party (UDP) Jemino Mawthoh said the party will sit again to discuss the names for the remaining constituencies because “selecting candidates at the eleventh hour is difficult”.
“There are discussions in some of the constituencies where we will be able to make the final announcement whether we will select more candidates or to leave it at 33 candidates. We will have to look at the response of the party functionaries,” said Mawthoh and added that the party is looking for “serious candidates”.
UDP has so far announced 33 candidates and its ally in the Khasi-Jaintia region, HSPDP, has announced 13 names. The Garo National Council, another ally in Garo Hills, has announced five candidates.
MPCC president Celestine Lyngdoh said the Congress election committee will meet soon to decide on the candidates.
BJP state president Shibun Lyngdoh informed that the party is working on it. “We are trying to release the first list and we are working on it.”
Lyngdoh informed that on January 17, the state BJP will welcome its leaders apart from BJP spokesperson Nalin Kohli.
Lyngdoh refused to divulge the names of the national BJP leaders who will campaign in the run-up to the Assembly elections.
NPP state president WR Kharlukhi said one or two more candidates will be announced later while the leader remained tight-lipped on the candidate from Ampati who will take on Chief Minister Mukul Sangma.
“We cannot say anything for now,” he added.
