Will contest 2018 Assembly polls
MAWKYRWAT: A new political party named ‘People’s Democratic Front (PDF)’ was formally announced in Mawkyrwat, South West Khasi Hills, with an objective to contest the 2018 Assembly elections and 2019 Autonomous District Council polls.
Addressing the media, PDF’s Mawkyrwat president Y.G Lyngdoh said the ad hoc body of the new party was formed in February 2017 with Ibanlum Marbaniang as the president and Ospicious L. Mawphlang as the general secretary. The party will soon be registered with the Election Commission and it is expected to get a symbol by May 2017.
Earlier, UDP leaders, including H.S Shylla and Bindo Lanong, had hinted that KHADC Chief Executive Member P.N Syiem was behind the formation of PDF. The UDP, which is part of the People’s Democratic Forum (also PDF) in KHADC, had sought clarification from Syiem in this matter. However, Syiem said he was still with the PDF-led KHADC and had no role in the formation of the new party.
PDF got its political status during a general meeting held on Thursday at Nativity H.S School, Mawkyrwat, in which hundreds of people from different parts of Mawkyrwat constituency attended.
Lyngdoh also said the People’s Democratic Front as a political party has no connection with the People’s Democratic Forum in the KHADC.
“The PDF (political party) has no links with the PDF (coalition partners in KHADC). However, everybody is free to apply for tickets during elections,” he added.
“I don’t know why Bindo Lanong is concerned about the emergence of the People’s Democratic Front as the new regional party. Since 1972 many political parties were formed in the State but they did not do anything to protect and safeguard the people (Khasis, Jaintias and Garos), but they focus only on how to win elections,” Lyngdoh said adding that the youth want to see changes.
“We feel that contesting elections is the right solution,” he added.
Lyngdoh informed that in the meeting on Thursday, the PDF’s Mawkyrwat unit was also constituted.
