SHILLONG, April 14: Hill State People’s Democratic Party (HSPDP) president, KP Pangniang, said that the party is not keen on fielding any candidate for the Mawryngkneng bypoll instead it would rather help its partners in the MDA coalition.
“As a president, I do not feel it is appropriate for the HSPDP to field a candidate in a hasty manner because when we have the intention or purpose to field a candidate, we first need to reorganise the party strongly as well as effectively, and then let our candidate in,” the HSPDP chief said on Wednesday.
The regional party, however, maintained that they are yet to sit as a party as well as with the Regional Democratic Alliance (RDA) and take a collective decision on the issue.
“We are yet to decide whether or not to field a candidate. The reason is that our party actually needs to discuss the matter side by side with the RDA but we have not sat together. Until and unless the RDA comes together, we feel it is not necessary to field a candidate in Mawryngkneng,” he informed. While stating that the 2023 Assembly elections in state are drawing nearer, the HSPDP has stressed that there is a need to discuss and support the MDA partners.
The president of the 55-year-old party, KP Pangniang, said, “We, as the oldest regional party of the state, are confident to rebuild and strengthen the party and hopefully this coming elections we will get good mandate.”
“Yes of course we cannot reach the level of leading the government but we will be a major player in the state …the HSPDP will get more mandate from two MLAs and we can add it further,” he added.