Pynthorumkhrah:Hek-Sawkmie slugfest

Shillong, Feb. 8: They both know what it takes to win elections, having been members of the Assembly for more than one term. However, this time round, one of them will have to bite the dust.

Expect a slugfest then when the main contestants from the Pynthorumkhar Assembly seat, Alexander L. Hek (Congress) and Process T. Sawkmie (Independent), lock horns in the February 23 Meghalaya Assembly elections.

Hek has won the seat for three terms as a BJP candidate, but has since switched over to the Congress. “I have joined the Congress in order to serve my constituency better. I can achieve much more being in the Congress than I did when I was with the BJP,” he said.

Hek began his political career as a member of the Federation of Khasi, Jaintia,and  Garo People (FKJGP) and over the years has managed to earn his space as a popular leader.  “People of the constituency know what I can deliver. I am confident my people will re-elect me this time as well,” he said.

His rival Sawkmie, on the other hand, said the people of Pynthorumkhrah have not been well served by Hek, which is which why he decided to contest from the seat. “I shifted my base to Pynthorumkhrah since I felt that the constituency does not have a good leader to serve them,” said the former Mawlai legislator.

Sawkmie, of course, had founded the Meghalaya Democratic Party (MDP) after breaking away from the United Democratic Party (UDP).  However, having lost the last election to Founder Strong Cajee from Mawlai, he is contesting as an Independent this time. The former minister said, if elected, he would work for the poor and youths of his adopted constituency. By Associate Editor Suraj Joshi