SHILLONG: Former KHADC CEM PN Syiem, who won this year’s Council elections from Mawkhar- Pynthorumkhrah constituency, has been setting his eyes on contesting the 2023 Assembly elections from Pynthorumkhrah constituency which has been a stronghold of BJP leader AL Hek since decades.
Syiem, who is currently holding the position of chairman in the KHADC, while speaking to The Shillong Times, hinted that he may contest from Pynthorumkhrah.
“I have not decided anything as of now because in my council constituency of Mawkhar-Pynthorumkhrah, I got votes from both the constituencies but since my house falls under the jurisdiction of Pynthorumkhrah, I may contest the assembly elections from Pynthorumkhrah,” Syiem said.
Syiem was earlier a Congress MLA from Mawsynram constituency but he revolted against the party chief, Mukul Sangma after which he floated the People’s Democratic Front (PDF). He then lost the 2018 Assembly elections from his constituency.
Just before the council elections this year, he switched over to NPP and won the polls from Mawkhar-Pynthorumkhrah constituency.
Political pundits say that if Syiem contests the election from Pynthorumkhrah constituency in 2023, the fight between Syiem and Hek will be interesting as both are senior politicians of the state.
Hek represented Pynthorumkhrah constituency continuously since 1998.
In the last election, Hek had secured 10,166 votes while PDF’s James Ban Basaiawmoit gave a tough fight to the BJP MLA securing 8,748 votes.
