SHILLONG, Jan 21: The United Democratic Party on Sunday said the state government should declare the elections to the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council and the Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council soon.
“We want the date of election to be declared at the earliest,” UDP working president Titosstarwell Chyne said, seeking to know on what grounds the government is reportedly trying to extend the term of the present house.
The terms of both the KHADC and the JHADC will end on March 5.
Chyne, also the parliamentary party leader of the UDP in the KHADC, said the party is prepared to contest an early election in both the autonomous district councils (ADCs).
“The government should end the suspense around whether it intends to hold the elections or extend the house,” he added.
Earlier, the Voice of the People Party had taken a subtle dig at the ruling National People’s Party for the uncertainty over the two ADCs.
“The NPP-led MDA 2.0 may have forced the state into a financial crisis and it appears that the government lacks the funds necessary to hold the elections. Another reason could be that the NPP is trying to delay its candidates’ defeat in the MDC elections,” VPP spokesperson Batskhem Myrboh said.
He said the NPP knows its current MDCs cannot retain their seats and is thus trying to extend the terms of the two councils to “maximise their enjoyment of power and privileges”.
RDA campaign
The Regional Democratic Alliance will convene a meeting on January 23 to formally introduce its common candidate for the Shillong parliamentary seat, UDP leader Robertjune Kharjahrin said.
The official campaign for Kharjahrin will also kick off at this meeting to be attended by the top leaders of the UDP and HSPDP apart from the MLAs and MDCs of the two parties.
Chyne said they have also invited presidents and secretaries of the districts, circles, women’s wing, and the youth wing of the party.
He said that the common candidate of the RDA will address the gathering to highlight his vision and plans for the election campaign.
The RDA is hopeful of wresting the Shillong seat from Congress, which could be a formidable rival along with the NPP.
The UDP, the dominant constituent of the RDA, is the second-largest party in the state with 12 MLAs. The party enjoys a position of strength in the Khasi-Jaintia Hills.
