SHILLONG: Absence of anti-defection law in the Autonomous District Councils (ADCs) has prevented the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) from contesting the ADC polls in Khasi and Jaintia Hills.
The KHADC and JHADC will go to polls on February 27.
State president of NCP, Saleng Sangma told reporters, “The anti-defection law is not there yet. There is horse-trading every now and then. At one point of time, there is one EC (Executive Committee) and then after some time, there is another EC.”
He added there has been no response from the NCP’s Delhi high command about putting up candidates for the council elections.
However, the NCP legislator did not rule out the possibility of contesting the council polls in the future.
Speaking about the Lok Sabha polls, Sangma said talks are on with national leaders. With regard to the common candidate, he said the party has not spoken to the MDA partners.
Two parties are not contesting the council polls– BJP and NCP.
While the NCP has a lone legislator in the Assembly, the BJP has two MLAs- AL Hek and Sanbor Shullai.
In the backdrop of opposition to the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, the state BJP has decided to not field candidates for the council polls. However, BJP Minister, AL Hek recently told reporters that winning candidates will be baptised in the saffron party.
