HSPDP to go it alone in 2018 polls
SHILLONG: The Hill State People’s Democratic Party (HSPDP) has reiterated its decision to go it alone in the 2018 Assembly polls.
Speaking to media persons after a meeting of the party’s central executive committee held here on Monday, the party president Ardent Basaiawmoit, however, indicated that the party would have no problem as far as post-poll alliance is concerned.
The HSPDP’s decision has played a spoilsport in BJP’s plan of forming a grand alliance under the banner of North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA) to take on Congress in the upcoming polls in Meghalaya.
The HSPDP also rejected the idea to be a part of NEDA and instead pointed out that the regional parties of the North East need a separate and strong forum minus BJP and Congress.
According to Basaiawmoit, politics in Assam and Meghalaya is different and the Assam model of a pre-poll alliance might not work in Meghalaya.
“People might see HSPDP as an alternative to NEDA and the Congress,” he said.
He is hopeful of his party putting up a good show in the 2018 Assembly elections.
Meanwhile, the party vice president KP Pangniang denied media reports that Ardent Basaiawmoit never discussed the issue of pre-poll alliance with the party leaders.
Uranium issue: Meanwhile, the party has also reiterated its opposition to uranium mining in South West Khasi Hills.
Stating that the party is not against “development”, Ardent Basaiawmoit said that the proposed two-lane road projects in the uranium-mining belt should not be linked to the mining of the mineral.
The issue was discussed in the central executive committee meeting of the party held on Monday.
The HSPDP also opposed the state government’s alteration of the policy not to give preference to bonded nursing students.
