SHILLONG, Feb 7: Twelve women are contesting the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) elections, scheduled for February 21.
There are altogether 158 candidates. The council has 29 constituencies.
The NPP has fielded four women, including two sitting MDCs – Grace Mary Kharpuri from Nongshken constituency and Macdalyn Sawkmie Mawlong from Umsning constituency.
The party’s two other women candidates are Rona Khymdeit and Amanda Pakyntien. Khymdeit is contesting from Nongpoh and Pakyntien from Mawkynrew. Pakyntein, who had unsuccessfully contested the KHADC polls in 2019, is the wife of NPP’s Mawkynrew MLA Banteidor Lyngdoh.
The VPP and the HSPDP have given tickets to two women candidates each. The VPP candidates are Aibandaplin F Lyngdoh (Mylliem constituency) and Deity H Majaw (Laitumkhrah-Malki constituency). Majaw is the daughter of veteran politician Bindo Mathew Lanong.
Badariti Lyngdoh (Nongstoin constituency) and Phinda Warjri (Pariong Mawthadraishan) are the HSPDP’s two women candidates.
The UDP and the BJP are fielding only one woman each. The UDP candidate is Naphisha Marwein (Umroi constituency) while the BJP candidate is Daniella Nonglait (Mawlai constituency).
Two women are contesting as independent candidates. One is Sony Kharjana who is the daughter of former MLA Nit Shabong. She is contesting from Sohiong constituency. The other, Arena Hynniewta, is contesting from Shella constituency.
Four sitting MLAs – three from UDP and one from NPP – are also contesting. The UDP MLAs are Mathew Beyondstar Kurbah (Mawphlang-Deingiei), Synshar Kupar Roy Lyngdoh Thabah (Nongspung-Sohiong) and Pius Marwein (Langrin). The NPP MLA is Sotheness Sohtun from Jirang.
Among the prominent candidates who are contesting are KHADC Chief Executive Member and NPP candidate Pyniaid Sing Syiem from Nongthymmai, former Deputy CEM and Congress candidate Pynshngain N Syiem from Mawkhar-Pynthorumkhrah, and Opposition leader and UDP candidate Titosstarwell Chyne from Sohra.
The sitting MDCs in the poll fray are Batskhem Ryntathiang (NPP) from Mairang, Carness Sohshang (NPP) from Mawkyrwat, Fantin J Lakadong (NPP) from Laitumkhrah-Malki, Alvin K Sawkmie (NPP) from Mawsynram, Rangkynsai Kharbuki (NPP) from Umroi, Jambor War (UDP) from Pariong-Mathadraishan, Balajied Ranee (UDP) from Nongpoh, Mitchell Wankhar (UDP) from Laban-Mawprem, Victor Ranee (Congress) from Jirang, Lambor Malngiang (Independent) from Nongkrem and Teibor Pathaw (Independent) from Mawlai.
Some former MLAs are also contesting. They are George B Lyngdoh (Independent) from Umroi, Process T Sawkmie (Independent) from Mawlai and Kimfa Sidney Marbaniang (NPP) from Rambrai-Jyrngam. The former MDCs in the poll fray are James Sylliang (UDP) from Mawhati and James Ban Basaiawmoit (UDP) from Mawkhar-Pynthorumkhrah.
Four veteran journalists are among the candidates. They are RM Shabong (Congress) from Nongskhen, Starfing Pdahkasiej (HSPDP) from Mawsynram, John Wilson Thabah (VPP) from Sohra and Powell Sohkhlet (VPP) from Pariong-Mawthadraishan.
