SHILLONG, Jan 2: National People’s Party (NPP) state president and Rajya Sabha member, WR Kharlukhi cautioned the rival political parties that they should not make a mistake by writing off the NPP in the 2023 Assembly polls.
“Everybody had written us off before the by-polls but we won two of the three seats. I am not saying winning the by-elections means we will win the 2023 polls but we are working on the same lines and we have high expectations about retaining power,” Kharlukhi said.
He welcomed the new parties that emerged in the state’s political landscape but said, “The Congress took a long time to establish itself in state politics and the NPP took two decades to come to power.”
Referring to All India Trinamool Congress, Kharlukhi said, “I like its enthusiasm but it is yet to be tested. It will be tested in the 2023 polls.”
Talking about defection, he said, “It is natural for politicians. I think some will also come to us.”