SHILLONG: The Congress, which emerged as the single largest party by securing 10 of the 29 seats in KHADC but took a beating in JHADC, is optimistic that it would further improve its performance in the upcoming elections in the state.
Congress leader and spokesperson HM Shangpliang on Friday said that the results for the party in the council elections were very encouraging.
As for Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council, the party could manage only 4 of the 29 seats though Jaintia Hills was once a bastion of the Congress having won 14 seats in 2014.
However, Shangpliang downplayed the poor performance of the party in Jaintia Hills saying it is not a matter of concern since the party is working on certain strategies to improve its standing in the region.
He also said that the party had fielded many young and budding politicians and they have done a commendable job with the margins of defeat very slim.
“It shows that we have not done very badly and we as a party are looking forward to every challenge which we will face in future,” he added. While the Congress emerged as the single largest party in KHADC, the NPP turned out to be the single largest in JHADC, providing a glimmer of hope to regional political forces ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.
In 2014 too, the Congress had bagged 10 seats in KHADC. The Hill State People’s Democratic Party (HSPDP) had followed with seven seats while UDP and the Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement (KHNAM) won six and four seats respectively. The NCP bagged one seat while there was a lone Independent winner.
In the Jaintia Hills council, the Congress had won 14 seats, one of which was decided by a draw of lots, the UDP bagged six while Independents managed to win in nine constituencies. The Jaintia Hills council also has 29 constituencies.
