The National People’s Party is set to evaluate its electoral performance following setbacks in the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council elections, where it secured only four out of 25 contested seats.
National People’s Party spokesperson HM Shangpliang said, “The NPP, with four members in the KHADC, would be a strong opposition along with other partners who would be in the position and would serve the people for the next few years.”
He also stated that in JHADC, NPP is prepared to form the Executive Committee along with like-minded partners willing to be part of the coalition.
“The party would be sitting in the next coming days to introspect and to review the performances of the party in every constituency as to the fact that we have performed unexpectedly low by securing just four seats,” Shangpliang said.
Addressing the setback in KHADC, he remarked, “We fielded 25 candidates in 25 constituencies, but only four emerged victorious. There is reason somewhere, and we need to introspect and find out where things went wrong. The NPP candidates have come second in many constituencies, which just shows that we have not been wiped out completely, but again, as I said, we would like to respect the mandate of the people.”
Reaffirming the party’s commitment to governance, he stated, “We would like also to tell the people that the NPP is here to serve every section of the people and we will continue to serve the people. We are in the government, we will try to serve even more better and also the NPP with four members in the KHADC would be a strong opposition along with other partners who would be in the position and would serve the people for the next few years that we are in the District Council.”
On the NPP’s performance in Jaintia Hills, Shangpliang expressed gratitude. “I would also like to thank the people of Jaintia Hills for giving a good mandate to the NPP. We got about 13 seats out of 29 in Jaintia Hills, and definitely, being the largest party, the NPP is getting geared up and ready to form the Executive Committee in the JHADC along with a few like-minded partners who are willing to be part of the coalition. The leaders of the party will be sitting to discuss the next course of action, particularly for KHADC in the formation of the Executive Committee.”
Refuting claims of anti-government sentiment, he remarked, “I would not like to say that it is the vote against the government. The people, maybe they wanted a change in the District Council, and yes, we are in the government. The party is in the government under the leadership of Conrad K. Sangma, and we will continue to serve the people even more better. If there are lapses somewhere or there are drawbacks somewhere, we try to find out and try to correct those issues wherever there are. We are in the government, and there are a lot of government schemes as you have heard from time to time which are benefiting every section of the people.”