SHILLONG, March 19: The Hill State People’s Democratic Party (HSPDP) has set in motion its first leg of preparatory strategies for the Assembly elections in 2023, and is looking forward to working hand-in-hand with the National People’s Party (NPP) yet again as a coalition partner but with more numbers this time.
The HSPDP, which is one of the oldest regional parties, has already begun garnering support in parts of West Khasi Hills, South West Khasi Hills and Ri-Bhoi district.
With the party making it clear that this is an era of coalition government, this regional front is sure to make it count for itself. “We have started our work on the ground and have started covering villages…we will move faster and we are also trying to get into Jaintia Hills,” HSPDP chief KP Pangniang said on Saturday.
This time around, Pangniang said, the HSPDP will improve significantly, adding that the party is leaving no stone unturned in raising the issues that find a mention in their manifestos.
The HSPDP chief is hopeful that their numbers in the House of sixty in the state will improve.
“We do not want to talk big, let the spirit of regional party with national outlook shine,” he said, while hinting their affiliation to the Chief Minister Conrad Sangma-led NPP.
“We will stick to our position that we need to strengthen the regional ideology identity, especially in Khasi and Jaintia Hills region, and without naming our friends, we believe in coalition partner era and we have to work hand in hand,” he added.
The HSPDP is a part of the NPP-led MDA coalition government and is represented by two MLAs in the House of sixty.