SHILLONG, April 10: National People’s Party (NPP) state president, WR Kharlukhi, has said the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) elections are now in the “people’s court” and that the NPP believes in the verdict of people.
“It’s in the people’s court. I don’t really have to say anything, the people will on April 12 as they go to vote,” Kharlukhi, who is also a Rajya Sabha member, said on Saturday.
Stating that claims, counter-claims and allegations are made by political parties during electioneering, he said how he would say who is right or wrong. People are the masters to decide. Let the results come out, he said.
Asked if the criticism of the NPP by its ally the United Democratic Party (UDP) will tarnish the former’s image, Kharlukhi said the UDP is talking about the GHADC polls and it has the right to do so. The results will reflect the sentiments of people, he said.
Speaking on the Congress’ charge that the NPP is violating COVID-19 protocols, he said, “We are trying to ensure that the protocols are followed but, sometimes, it gets difficult as the responsibility lies also on each and every individual”.
He said one cannot avoid a crowd during an election and the Assembly elections held in some states are a testimony to it. Kharlukhi appealed to some pressure groups, which have threatened to disrupt the GHADC polls, to come out and exercise their franchise.
According to political analysts, the main battle in the GHADC polls will be among the NPP, the Congress and a few independent candidates. The NPP is likely to face a tough challenge in some constituencies but it is expected to perform better than other political parties.
