By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Dec 9: The Regional Democratic Alliance (RDA), comprising the United Democratic Party (UDP) and the Hill State People’s Democratic Party (HSPDP), is deliberating an alliance or seat-sharing arrangement for the upcoming elections to the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) and the Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council (JHADC).
The RDA convened its first meeting on Monday to confer about strategies for the district council elections slated next year.
“We had the first meeting to discuss the upcoming district council election. We will again meet on Wednesday to finalise whether to have a pre-poll alliance or seat adjustments in the 58 seats in both KHADC and JHADC,” RDA assistant general secretary, Titosstarwell Chyne, told reporters after the meeting.
Chyne, who also serves as UDP working president, stressed the importance of the two regional parties uniting for the elections, given the likelihood that no single party will secure a majority.
“We are confident that both the regional forces will be able to form the new EC in both the councils after the elections,” Chyne who is also the UDP working president said.
Downplaying suggestions that the Voice of the People Party (VPP) might replicate its Lok Sabha success in the district council elections, Chyne argued that parliamentary elections differ significantly from council polls.
He highlighted that the outcome in the 58 constituencies would depend more on the individual candidates than on party affiliations.
“No doubt political parties are important. But voters will ultimately decide based on the individual candidates fielded by the parties,” Chyne noted.
Meanwhile, HSPDP president KP Pangniang confirmed the support of the party’s two MLAs, Shakliar Warjri and Methodius Dkhar, for the alliance with the UDP in the upcoming elections.
Addressing concerns about the MLAs not campaigning for the RDA’s common candidate during the Shillong parliamentary elections, Pangniang dismissed comparisons between the two elections.
“Both the MLAs are part and parcel of the party. I am sure that they are going to back any decision which will be arrived at by the RDA as far as agreement on the upcoming district council elections is concerned,” Pangngiang added.