NPP undecided on Shillong Lok Sabha seat

SHILLONG: Chief Minister and NPP national president, Conrad Sangma is playing it safe on the issue of common candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections for Shillong and Tura seats.
The MDA is yet to arrive at any consensus on a common candidate from Shillong seat and recently NPP during its general body meeting had maintained that the party was keen to contest from all constituencies of the North East.
Speaking on the matter, Sangma said the party will decide at the appropriate time whether it should contest the election especially from the Shillong seat.
He also said the NPP is open to the idea of putting up a common candidate and the party is discussing the matter with all the partners of the MDA.
“Ultimately, the party might contest from both the seats, but there are also possibilities that we may not contest at all. It will depend on developments in the
coming months,” he said.
Sangma also said the NPP would be a party of the people of the North East since there is a need for such a platform for the region and the party will stick to this ideology.
The UDP, a major ally in the MDA, is keen to field its former MLA, Jemino Mawthoh, as the common candidate from Shillong and he has already started campaigning.
The HSPDP has named sitting legislator Renikton Lyngdoh Tongkhar for the seat.
Confident of victory
The chief minister said the party or the MDA is confident of forming the next executive committees in both KHADC and JHADC.
The chief minter will also campaign for the NPP candidates starting from Jaintia Hills on February 17.