SHILLONG:
In the run-up to the 2023 polls, the National People’s Party’s (NPP) strategy will primarily revolve around highlighting the developmental work done by the party in the last four years.
“The party will tell the people what it has done – be it development or issues it took up as per the demand of the people of the state. We are preparing ourselves and we are trying our level best to make sure that we come out with flying colours in the next elections,” said the party’s state president, WR Kharlukhi.
Kharlukhi also informed that that quite a few sitting MLAs have expressed their keenness to join the party ahead of the elections and NPP will soon call for applications from aspiring candidates and will accordingly declare the list of candidates for the 2023 polls. “Maybe around 10 to 15 sitting MLAs will join NPP, let us wait and see,” said Kharlukhi.
The NPP state president, however, said that if not in all the 60 seats, the party is confident of fielding candidates in at least in 55 to 56 constituencies. “There are areas in which the NPP will fighting against the AITC; there are areas where we will take on the Congress and United Democratic Party (UDP). And then there are areas, where we will be up against the Hill State People’s Democratic Party (HSPDP),” he said.
Every political party wants to win every election, he said, adding that, every party would love to ensure that their party forms the government in the state.
“You tell me, who would not like to see their own party form the government in the state? Even AITC, Congress, UDP and others would like that to happen.” he said, adding that if Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) is voted back to power, the NPP will “no doubt” work together with its current coalition partners.
“We have been working together for almost five years, we are happy with them so we hope they are (also) happy with us,” said the lone Rajya Sabha MP from the state. He, however, termed MDA coalition partner, Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) recent allegations and anti-government swipes as “political gimmick”.
“These remarks are nothing but a political gimmick. From the way I see it, it is nice to share a plate of food with your friend and ahead of elections, it is even nicer for that ‘friend’ to say that you were sharing poisonous food with him,” the state NPP president quipped.
He, however, doesn’t see the AITC as a threat in the polls. “AITC is yet to be tested. Therefore, only when they are tested will we know whether they are a threat or not,” he averred. He added that results of next year’s polls will reveal whether the Mamata Banerjee-led party is a threat for the NPP or not.