SHILLONG, April 16: The political parties have started to project their candidate for next year’s Lok Sabha polls, especially for the Shillong parliamentary seat.
The Congress is mostly likely to field sitting Lok Sabha member from Shillong, Vincent H Pala, who is going to be eyeing a fourth term.
The Voice of the People’s Party (VPP) is likely to field its party general secretary, Dr Ricky AJ Syngkon as its candidate for the MP elections.
Syngkon was the lone VPP candidate from Ri-Bhoi as he had contested from Umsning constituency in the recently conducted Assembly elections.
The VPP general secretary had stood in fourth position after he had managed to garner a total number of 5,456 votes.
Party sources on Wednesday said that the party’s top leadership already had an informal discussion on Dr Syngkon’s candidature.
“The party leadership is expected to make an announcement shortly,” party sources said.
It may be mentioned that a section of the leaders had already projected themselves to contest next year’s Lok Sabha polls from their respective parties.
In the UDP camp, discussions at the top-level on the candidate for Shillong Parliamentary seat are ongoing, party sources said.
The most likely contenders from the UDP include party’s working president Paul Lyngdoh and former MLAs — Jemino Mawthoh and PT Sawkmie.
“Few possible names have emerged. But it was only an informal discussion. The party currently is focussed on the deferred election of Sohiong constituency,” sources revealed.
It may be mentioned that the general council meeting of the UDP is also scheduled for this year.
Party sources revealed that the Meghalaya BJP is likely to project the name of former MLA HM Shangpliang and former IPS officer M Kharkrang as the party candidate for the Shillong Parliamentary seat.
The BJP leadership in Meghalaya has already held a discussion with BJP national general secretary, Rituraj Sinha to discuss the candidature.
