Deputy Chief Minister and NPP leader Sniawbhalang Dhar has taken a swipe at the Congress for withdrawing its support from the NPP-led Executive Committee (EC) in the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC), mere months ahead of the elections. Dhar emphasized the NPP’s determination to independently form the Executive Committee.
“This is just a politics, people of the state is not so fool, if they want to pull out they should have pulled out long time back, why they want to pull out just when the election is at the door but from the NPP we welcome all the party to work together no issue. Please Remember the door is always open,” Dhar said.
Rejecting claims that the NPP is weak in the Khasi-Jaintia Hills region, Dhar said, “In Garo Hills, there are mainly two parties. In Khasi-Jaintia Hills, there is UDP, NPP, VPP, Congress, and others. That is one of the reasons when so many parties at the board automatically become fracture does not win NPP is weak, we are not 13.”
“Challenge is there, politics always,” he admitted.
On preparations for the upcoming elections to the district councils, Dhar stated, “I think since you asked me about the MDC election, we as the party for both district councils Khasi Hills as well as Jaintia Hills we are fully prepared we are fully prepared we are ready I should say.”
“As per the cabinet proposal, it is on 21st of February and counting is on 24. Almost 80% is announced almost before Christmas or maybe in the first week of January some time all the candidates will be announced,” he added.
Most candidates, around 80%, have already been finalized, and the remaining names will be announced before Christmas or by the first week of January, the NPP leader said.
The Congress’ decision to withdraw its three MDCs’ support from the NPP-led EC marks the end of its association with the council, which began in June last year following the collapse of the UDP-led EC. The move, though expected, has sparked criticism over its timing so close to the elections.