SHILLONG: The Hill State People’s Democratic Party (HSPDP) on Monday proposed the name of its Mawkyrwat legislator Renikton Lyngdoh Tongkhar as the common candidate for the Lok Sabha elections from Shillong constituency while the Regional Democratic Alliance (RDA) wanted People’s Democratic Front (PDF) to join the regional coalition.
Talking to media persons after a meeting of the Regional Democratic Alliance attended by UDP, HSPDP and PDF, Tongkhar said the HSPDP has proposed his name as the common candidate.
Stating that the PDF has not yet decided on its common candidate, he added that the PDF would present its candidate before the MDA.
“We really want to work together and now each of the political parties are proposing their common candidates but at the end, the common candidate will be chosen by the MDA as a whole and we all will support the common candidate chosen by the alliance,” he said.
When asked about the BJP which is looking for options to contest the Lok Sabha elections from Shillong seat, he said the RDA cannot comment on the issue of BJP planning to contest the elections.
“We are trying to adjust but we are not interested to talk to BJP. It depends on them whether they would contest the election or not and we will not interfere,” Tongkhar added.
On the other hand, UDP leader, Allan Dkhar said the stand of the UDP that Shillong seat should be contested by UDP and Tura seat should be contested by NPP will be modified once PDF joins the RDA.
Earlier, Tongkhar said the UDP and HSPDP have reached an understanding that it will be very difficult for them to have a pre-poll alliance but they can surely have a post-poll alliance after the District Council elections and they would like to work together in the District Councils.
After the RDA proposed PDF to be part of the alliance, the PDF maintained that the party is positive about the idea and the matter will be discussed in the party.
