By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, March 15: The National People’s Party (NPP) on Sunday clarified that no formal discussion has taken place regarding the choice of the party candidate for the upcoming Shillong Lok Sabha by-election, necessitated by the untimely demise of VPP MP, Ricky Andrew J. Syngkon on February 19.
NPP Meghalaya working president Hamletson Dohling told The Shillong Times that reports suggesting NPP general secretary David Arnold Kharchandy being the front-runner for the party ticket are “imaginations of some people.”
Dohling explained that Kharchandy, a professor at Synod College, Shillong, had been invited to speak about the life and personal relations of former Lok Sabha Speaker and party founder Purno Agitok Sangma on his 10th death anniversary during a function at the state party office on March 4.
“People may have presumed he is the front-runner because of his presence at the function,” Dohling said.
He added that the party is considering new faces, given the presence of capable leaders. “But the party has yet to discuss formally, so the question of Kharchandy being the front-runner does not arise. We will first meet and discuss and then finalise our candidate for the forthcoming Shillong by-election,” Dohling added.
