SHILLONG: People’s Democratic Front (PDF) chairman, PN Syiem on Thursday convened a meeting of different political parties to discuss the prospect of fielding a common candidate for Ranikor constituency.
The meeting was attended by a section of party functionaries of different political parties from Ranikor constituency.
A by-election in Ranikor constituency was necessitated following the resignation of M.M Danggo.
Representatives of political parties from UDP, Congress, president of NPP Ranikor Block, C. Shangdiar (supporters of Donkupar Massar), supporters of PDF’s member Air Marshal Diangngan and Pelcy Snaitang of BJP were present at the meeting.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting on Thursday, Syiem said Ranikor constituency created history with political parties joining hands to find out a common candidate with other parties sans NPP and UDP.
“In the meeting we have come up with a decision to combine all the parties and come up with a common candidate,” he said.
Syiem said there would be a series of meetings to discuss the plan for a common candidate at Rangthong, Wahkaji, Nongjri and Ranikor. The common candidate will be declared at Ranikor in which a coordination committee will also be constituted.
Stating that the common candidate will fight from the symbol of PDF, Syiem said, “We need a common candidate as we want to see development in the field of education, health, transport etc.”
Asked whether he was projecting himself as the common candidate, he said, “More or less it leads to that but we are in the initial stage of discussion.”
Commenting on the UDP’s move to field Pius Marwein as the candidate for the bye-election, Syiem urged the UDP to relook into the decision to field a candidate.
It may be mentioned that UDP president, Donkupar Roy had categorically stated that Marwein would be its candidate in Ranikor.
