Opp ready for stiff fight

GUWAHATI: Even as regional parties in Meghalaya are looking at a “like-minded alliance” to prevail in the district council elections, Opposition Congress has pledged to put up a good fight and even hoped to spring a few surprises in the February 27 polls.
Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee general secretary, John F. Kharshiing, while speaking to The Shillong Times, said, “We have put up credible candidates and will give a good fight. We expect to win a good number of seats and we might spring a few surprises as they the alliance parties have fielded their own candidates.”
Congress has fielded 29 candidates in the elections to the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council and 19 in Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council.
On the issues the party would take up, Kharshiing said the focus areas would be to complete the codification of customary laws of territorial chiefs, resolution of the issue of the building bye-laws, pending Village Administration Bill and the boundary impasse, among others.
Reflecting on the past trends in the district councils, the veteran Congress leader however expressed concern over the instability factor affecting the executive committees (ECs) of the district councils.
“The absence of an anti-defection law has compounded the issue. In fact, the present chief executive member in KHADC is the fourth to hold the post in five years. So parties are apprehensive in this regard,” he said.