Shillong, Mar 22: The Hill State People’s Democratic Party (HSPDP) on Tuesday said it will decide on the pre-poll alliance for the 2023 Meghalaya Assembly polls and its number of candidates after the meeting of Regional Democratic Alliance (RDA)

Speaking to reporters after the meeting of the Central Executive Committee (CEC), HSPDP president KP Pangniang said that the party has discussed its alliance with the United Democratic Party (UDP) under the Regional Democratic Alliance (RDA).

“We are yet to take a final call because we want the RDA to convene a meeting to discuss the matter. The party will then again sit and decide based on the RDA meeting,” he said.

Pangniang also said that the party will decide on the number of candidates to be fielded for the upcoming Assembly polls after the RDA meeting.

“We are yet to decide as we are still rebuilding and reorganizing the party and at the same time we are still awaiting the outcome of the forthcoming meeting of the RDA,” he said.

Pangniang informed that in 2018, there are constituencies where the HSPDP and UDP were having a friendly-match and “some constituencies we did not set up candidates based on mutual understanding”.

On the preparation for the 2023 elections, the HSPDP chief said that the party has decided to constitute a seven-member central election committee (CEC) under the chairmanship of ex-MLA Witting Mawsor.

“We have entrusted the CEC to work on the important issues for framing the party election manifesto,” he said, adding the party has stressed on improving the youth policy as a new focus of the manifesto.

He said the party also discussed at length on further strengthening the organization ahead of the general elections adding brief reports have been submitted by all district committees on this regard.

“We have decided to again direct all the district committees including youth and women’s wing for reorganizing and strengthening the party,” he said.

Stating that over 1500 youths have joined the party, Pangniang said, “It is a good sign and we hope that the oldest regional party of the state can build up the “jaidbynriew” and hopefully this time the people will give us their mandate.”

With people joining other political parties, Pangniang however said the HSPDP will maintain its discipline and will ensure its MLAs will not jump ship.

“Infact, the HSPDP will multiply its members in the Assembly and increase the number of its MDCs as it is beginning to rebuild and strengthen its organization,” he added.