Speaker of the Assembly and United Democratic Party (UDP) president, Metbah Lyngdoh, along with cabinet minister Kyrmen Shylla, visited Rajabala today to campaign for their candidate, Ashahel D Shira, ahead of the upcoming by-election on October 30.
Also present was another cabinet minister, Renikton Lyngdoh Tongkhar, of the Hill State People’s Democratic Party (HSPDP). The HSPDP and UDP are members of the Regional Democratic Alliance.
The ministers and Speaker first visited the village of Rajabala itself where they met up with various local UDP leaders to assess the campaign and encourage them to work harder for the party’s candidate to come up trumps. The UDP top brass met several local leaders at both Bhaitbari and Gomaijhora before holding bigger meetings at the villages of Takimagre and Bhajamara.
Speaking to the crowds in both villages, the Speaker informed that when they were deciding on the ticket for Shira, he had been asked why he wanted to stand and the UDP was impressed by his reply.
“He replied that he wanted to bring development to the area and serve the people. We were impressed by his commitment and that is why he is with us to win the election and serve you all,” said Lyngdoh.
Shira, during his speech, hoped that the people of the constituency would support his candidature and allow him to serve them again. He is a former MLA of Rajabala, having lost a close election in 2018 to the Congress, while his father was a two-time MDC. His grandmother was also an MLA from the same area.