SHILLONG: The idea of a common candidate in the Lok Sabha election is getting complex with another coalition partner, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), planning to field candidates.
Speaking to media persons, NCP legislator and state president Saleng A Sangma said, “We have to get advice from the centre (central leadership) as we cannot take the decision.”
Sangma, who will write to the higher-ups, pointed out that unlike the UDP and the NPP, the party does not have “the numbers”.
“So we will have to get views (on Lok Sabha polls) from Delhi,” he added.
The UDP was the first coalition partner to moot a common candidate for next year’s parliamentary election. The party had suggested a common candidate for Shillong seat though the NPP is yet to clear the air over the issue.
Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong had said the matter would be discussed during the MDA coordination committee meeting.
BJP leader AL Hek had also proposed that the party should put up its candidate in both the seats. He had said the decision to field a candidate or support a common candidate of the MDA depended on the BJP central leadership.
The coming year is crucial for regional parties and state units of national parties because beside the Lok Sabha polls, the state will also witness autonomous district council election.
On the council election, Sangma said, “We will have to contest in few places but what will be the total strength I don’t know. I will have to look for the views from centre.”
The MLA maintained that the NCP was a clean party and was confident that more people would vote for it next year. The party, however, had to start from scratch in Meghalaya after some leaders left it in the lurch, Sangma said.
