The United Democratic Party (UDP) is spoilt for choice in terms of candidates for the Nongkrem seat in next year’s state election, though it could be facing a headache as well.
Recently, the assistant general secretary of the UDP’s East Khasi Hills unit, Egenstar Kurkalang, who has his eye on Nongkrem, quit the party as he felt he would not get the party ticket.
It is also well-known that party adviser and nominated MDC Bindo Lanong wants to run from Nongkrem in 2023 but, complicating matters, the sitting legislator, Lambor Malngiang, who won in 2018 as an independent, has also expressed a desire to contest from the UDP next year.
The election should be an interesting one, as the National People’s Party Dasakhiatbha Lamare, who is the MLA for Mawhati, is planning to switch his seat and contest from Nongkrem.
Malngiang, Mawthoh said, “has made it clear that he wants to contest in 2023 from the UDP and has sent his name through the Nongkrem circle to the district unit, which will send his name to the state committee. We also have the chief adviser of the party, Bindo M Lanong, who is the tallest figure in the UDP and respected by all who also wants to contest from the party ticket in Nongkrem.”
However, nothing has been finalised and the UDP state election committee will examine the matter thoroughly and consider all angles before taking a decision, he added.
“We have to follow procedures and we cannot take a hasty decision but take decisions based on the best interests of the party as a whole,” Mawthoh added.
