SHILLONG, March 28: The ruling NPP on Sunday brushed aside the challenges from the Opposition Congress as well as allies BJP and UDP in the upcoming Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) polls.
It said the BJP and UDP have no foothold in the areas under the Council while expecting little resistance from the Congress and a few independents in some of the constituencies.
“There is neither BJP nor UDP on the ground in Garo Hills. They are fielding candidates for tyhe sake of it. We will be fighting in some constituencies with Congress and a few independent candidates, but we are sure we are winning,” NPP spokesperson, Marcuise N. Marak told The Shillong Times.
The NPP exuded confidence that the people of Garo Hills would vote for the party in all the 29 seats under GHADC that has been plagued by corruption.
“We have been explaining to the people of the region that we are trying to bring in reforms in the functioning of the GHADC. It seems the people are going to give their mandate to the NPP,” he said.
Marak insisted the charges of graft in the GHADC would not affect the NPP’s poll prospects, as the people found the reply given by Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma in the recently concluded Assembly satisfactory.
“The chief minister has already toured the entire Garo Hills. He started from North Garo Hills and came to East Garo hills and the kind of crowd that attended the meeting shows the NPP is on top in GHADC. We are winning the required number,” he said.
There are 185 candidates contesting the GHADC elections on April 12 for 29 seats.
West Garo Hills has the most candidates – 90 – vying for 13 constituencies, including Tura.
East Garo Hills district has 16 candidates, the lowest, for three constituencies.
Twenty-three candidates are vying for the four seats on offer in North Garo Hills while 32 candidates are contesting the five constituencies in South Garo Hills.
South West Garo Hills, comprising four constituencies, has 24 candidates ready for the electoral battle.