SHILLONG, AUG 24: The opposition Hill State People’s Democratic Party (HSPDP) today overtook its pre-poll alliance partner the United Democratic Party (UDP) in as far as announcing of candidates for the upcoming Assembly poll slated for February-March next year.
Setting its poll preparedness in motion, the HSPDP announced the first list of candidates from 10 Assembly seats in Khasi and Jaiñtia region.
The decision was taken at the meeting of the party’s state election committee (SEC) held here on Thursday.
“We have decided to announce the list of official candidates from the 10 constituencies to contest the upcoming elections. The names of other candidates will be announced in the coming months,” HSPDP media cell-incharge Londoner M Sohtun said here.
The list includes three sitting legislators and two sitting MDCs of the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) besides two former legislators.
The sitting MLAs are Plastingwell Pangniang from Rambrai-Jyrngam constituency, Witting Mawsor from Mawshynrut constituency, and Diosstarness Jyndiang from Nongstoin constituency.
The two sitting MDCs are Samlin Malngiang from Sohiong constituency and Teilinia Thangkhiew from Mylliem constituency.
While Malniang will be contesting against home minister HDR Lyngdoh, Thangkhiew, a former chairperson of the KHADC will be contesting against urban affairs minister Ronnie V Lyngdoh.
Two former ministers and MLAs Pynshai Manik Syiem and Martle N Mukhim who will be contesting against parliamentary secretary Kennedy C Khyriem from Mawphlang constituency and UDP sitting legislator Remington Pyngrope from Mawkynrew constituency respectively.
Teilinia is the daughter of Pynshai. Earlier both the father and daughter had also contested in the last elections in 2013 together as independent candidates.
Meanwhile, the HSPDP is also fielding three new faces for the upcoming 2018 elections. These include Biolinda L Nonglait from Mawthadraishan constituency, Alester Neville Diengdoh from North Shillong constituency and Defender Pakem from Saipung constituency.
Nonglait, a master on social work from Kristu Jayanti College Bangalore, was a former social worker for DBT project in Civil Hospital and has been heading the Community Based Rehabilitation Programme of KJP Synod Sepngi as project coordinator.
Diengdoh (41) on the other hand, is a lawyer by profession in the district court and Meghalaya High Court, while Pakem is a law graduate from NEHU.
In May this year, the HSPDP and UDP had forged a pre-poll alliance for the 20128 Assembly poll from 36 Assembly segments in Khasi and Jaiñtia region.
The UDP however forged pre-poll understanding with the Garo National Council (GNC) in Garo Hills which has 24 Assembly seats.
In the current ninth Meghalaya Legislative Assembly which has 60 members, the UDP has eight legislators, while the HSPDP has four legislators.
By Our Reporter
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