Parties start groundwork for district council polls

SHILLONG: Parties which could not put up an impressive show in the Assembly elections in February are working hard for the district council polls next year.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) state president, Shibun Lyngdoh, said the party will contest the district council election because “unless we contest, how will we strengthen the base of the party”.
The HSPDP, which secured two seats in the Assembly polls, is also hoping for a positive outcome this time.
KP Pangiang, the ad hoc president of the party, said HSPDP would now strengthen itself at every level — from the district to the constituency.
Echoing similar views, UDP senior leader Allan Dkhar said a series of meetings were held and discussions on how to prepare for the MDC polls have been examined.
Dkhar also said the party would announce its candidates ahead of the polls as the same was done during the Assembly polls.
PN Syiem, chief of the People’s Democratic Front that secured four seats in its first outing in the Assembly polls also stressed on the need to reorganise the party at every level.
Syiem said it is important for the party to raise the issues of MUDA, traditional headmen and others in the platform of the council. “The issues of the PDF should find a place in the common minimum programme of the MDA government,” he added.