Shillong, Dec 19 : Following the announcement of the election dates for the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) and Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council (JHADC), Meghalaya Deputy Chief Minister and senior National People’s Party (NPP) leader, Sniawbhalang Dhar, expressed the party’s determination to form the Executive Committee (EC) on its own.

Clarifying NPP’s position, Dhar stated, “We are working towards forming the EC on our own. We want to have a majority. But if we fall short, we are open to working with other parties. We welcome them with no hesitation.”

Dhar also highlighted NPP’s preparedness for the upcoming elections, declaring that the party is ready to contest in both KHADC and JHADC. “We are fully prepared, ready for both district council elections — Khasi Hills as well as Jaintia Hills,” he affirmed.

On the issue of candidate selection, Dhar revealed that nearly 80% of the candidates had been finalized. He said, “Maybe before Christmas or in the first week of January, the remaining names will be announced. We are conducting the process in phases, and if the second phase is completed, then it’s okay. Otherwise, there may be a third phase.”

The party’s candidate selection process, he explained, is grounded in discipline and consultation at every level. “We consult our leaders in the field, whether it’s men, women, young, or old. It’s not about personal connections or friendships. Our process begins at the unit level, then moves to the block, district, and finally, the state level. If the block recommends a woman candidate, we respect that. If it’s an elderly candidate, we respect that too. But ultimately, we focus on the winnability of candidates. We trust our grassroots leaders to make the right recommendations,” Dhar stated.

When asked about the Congress’s decision to withdraw from the Executive Committee (EC) in the district council, Dhar dismissed it as a political maneuver. “This is just politics. If they wanted to pull out, they should have done so a long time back. Why wait until the last moment? But from the NPP, we welcome all parties to work together. No issue with that. The door is always open,” he remarked.

Dhar also shared his views on the competition NPP faces in the KHADC and JHADC elections. He acknowledged the presence of multiple parties, such as UDP, VPP, and Congress, but dismissed suggestions that this indicated weakness on the part of the NPP. “In Garo Hills, it’s mainly two parties. But here in Khasi-Jaintia Hills, there are several — UDP, NPP, VPP, Congress — which naturally divides the votes. This doesn’t mean that NPP is weak. In fact, we are currently 13 strong, so how can anyone claim we are weak? Yes, challenges exist in politics, but we are ready to face them,” Dhar said.
The state government recently announced that elections for the KHADC and JHADC would be held on February 21, 2025.

Read: Meghalaya’s land restoration, agroforestry efforts feature in COP16

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