By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Dec 2: The United Democratic Party (UDP) is likely to finalise the name of its candidate for the Shillong Lok Sabha seat on Monday when it will hold a crucial meeting.
UDP general secretary Jemino Mawthoh said, “We are moving ahead. We have done the consultative process and we are going to sit again on December 4 to discuss further the issue of selection of the candidate.”
Asked if the name of the candidate will be finalised in the meeting, he said, “Yes, when we meet, it will move in that direction only.”
He added, “…we will also be discussing with the RDA partners for finalisation, most probably on the same day.”
There are reports that many UDP leaders are backing former Hynniewtrep Youth Council president Robertjune Kharjahrin for the ticket. Mawthoh said some individuals expressed their interest to contest but the final decision will be taken at the end of the consultative process.
“Now, I will not be able to say anything because the (party’s) State Election Committee, of which I am the secretary, together with the top leaders of the party will sit and collectively take a decision.”
Three aspirants are Kharjahrin, Khasi Authors’ Society president KL Nonglait and UDP leader PT Sawkmie who is a former MLA.
Mawthoh said on Monday, the farmers’ wing of the party will also have a meeting. He said the party is activating this wing considering that a large majority of the people of the state depends on agriculture for livelihood.
The agricultural sector is very important as 79 per cent of the people live in rural areas, he said.
He further said that UDP’s youth wing of Shillong is organising a football tournament as part of its anti-drug campaign to sensitise people on the drug menace. The party wants to take a pledge to make Meghalaya a drug-free state, he added.
