Shillong, Feb 2: Businesswoman and former United Democratic Party (UDP) candidate from Pynursla constituency who contested in the 2013 election, Banalari Khongwar, formally joined the National People’s Party (NPP) on Thursday at the Party office in Shillong.

Deputy Chief Minister and Pynursla MLA Prestone Tynsong welcomed Khongwar and her supporters to the NPP fold in the presence of party leaders.

Khongwar, who contested twice against Tynsong, said she looks up to the leadership of Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma and Prestone Tynsong. She resigned from the UDP last year and eventually decided to focus on her business. But, it was her friends and supporters who urged her to join the National People’s Party, she said.

In a 1v1 fight during the 2013 election, Tynsong narrowly defeated Khongwar by a margin of few votes.