SHILLONG, Sept 6: Hill State People’s Democratic Party (HSPDP) on Tuesday expressed interest to have a post-poll alliance with other regional parties after the upcoming 2023 assembly elections in the state.

“The stand of the HSPDP is to maintain the present Regional Democratic Alliance (RDA) means after the elections, we are going to ally with the United Democratic Party (UDP) and other regional parties for the best interest of regionalism and to render the best services through the  manifestos of the regional parties,” HSPDP president KP Pangniang told reporters after the meeting of the central executive committee (CEC).

Pangniang also announced the party’s decision to field Sanjit Kynsai Shangrit as its official candidate from Nongstoin constituency.

“So far, names of over 10 candidates have been declared,” he said while informing that the party will be able to declare the complete list of candidates by the month of October or November.

The HSPDP chief and former MLA will also contest the upcoming 2023 polls from Rambrai-Jyrngam. “People will support as they want that the HSPDP will shine again,” he said.

Pangniang further informed that the party will release the election manifesto by the first week of October.

Stating that the demand for a separate Khasi-Jaintia state is the living issue of the party, Pangniang said, “We will not compromise at any cost as this is the visionary issue for the sake of the larger interest, special status of Khasi-Pnar of the state…so that this issue will always be in the heart and manifesto of the party.”

He informed there are more than 22-23 pending demands for creation of separate states in the country.

“(We still hope that) one day the government of India will give a positive response to the demands as it is a constitutional demand and not a wish of the people,” the HSPDP chief stated.