NPP snubs VPP’s claims of sweeping dist council polls

SHILLONG, Dec 1: The NPP on Sunday dismissed the Voice of the People Party’s confident claims about sweeping the upcoming district council polls, saying there is a vast difference between Lok Sabha elections and state or autonomous district council (ADC) elections.
NPP state president and Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong said during Lok Sabha elections, people go for those who can represent them in Delhi and work there. But in Assembly and ADC elections, they go for candidates who are easily accessible and can care for them.
Tynsong’s remarks followed the VPP’s statement that it would sweep the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council and Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council elections. The VPP is buoyed by its success in the last Lok Sabha elections in which it had won the Shillong seat.
Talking about the NPP’s preparations for the ADC polls, Tynsong said the party will announce the names of its candidates before the Christmas holidays.
Stating that the NPP intends to contest all seats in both councils, he said directions have already been given to party’s various district and block units for the identification and the screening of candidates.
He said the party’s state election committee is yet to receive the reports from them and as and when they are received, the process of finalising the candidates will begin.
To a query, Tynsong said the party will go it alone in the polls.
The district council polls are likely to be held by the end of March next year.