SHILLONG, April 4: A reinvigorated HSPDP is confident that it will win the Sohiong bypoll albeit a prickling sensation perhaps remains over the desertion of former sitting MLA Samling Malngiang in January this year just ahead of the 2023 general elections.
Election to the Sohiong Assembly constituency is slated for May 10. The poll to this seat was adjourned due to the demise of UDP’s candidate HDR Lyngdoh.
Two lone MLAs of the HSPDP — Samling Malngiang and Renikton Tongkhar — defected before polls. Nonetheless, the party managed to score two seats in the general elections, and it was first-time MLAs, Shakliar Warjri and Methodius Dkhar, who did it for the regional party.
Speaking to media persons on Tuesday, HSPDP president KP Pangniang said that their candidate is on the ground working hard and preparing for the upcoming election.
The HSPDP had earlier named Sandondor Ryntathiang as their candidate for Sohiong ahead of the general elections.
Asked whether the demise of HDR Lyngdoh will be a sympathy factor, Pangniang refrained from making any comment stating he is unaware of the ground reality.
“As you’re aware, sitting MLA left the party, so it is not easy for us to face elections even though we have to maintain party principle and vote bank of the party. We have a good candidate (Sandondor Ryntathiang), so it will all depend on public mandate,” said Pangniang.
Asked how he would rate the party’s performance in the recent polls, the HSPDP chief said that they have done well.
“Before going to the field we had two sitting MLAs but left the party and we started again with zero MLAs and yet we were able to get two MLAs. We will stand again to mobilise the party and rebuild the party; that’s our duty,” added Pangniang.
