The Hill State People’s Democratic Party (HSPDP) today released its first list of eight contenders to run the Khasi and Jaintia Hills district council elections to be held on February 21.
For the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council, the party released the names of six candidates and two will contest the Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council polls.
However, the name of prominent regional party leader and veteran, Martle Mukhim who represents Mawkynrew constituency, is missing from the first list.
When asked, HSPDP president KP Pangniang said, “Not only is his name missing but so are the names of two MLAs. Their names will be announced in the second list.”
“We are contesting the autonomous district council polls since as a party we were instrumental in giving statehood to the people and therefore we would like to remember those volunteers especially Hopingstone Lyngdoh and other leaders who founded the party,” Pangniang said.
“We are fighting the autonomous district council polls to uphold the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution given by the government of India through Article 244, to preserve the uniqueness of the indigenous people and to protect its lands, culture and traditions,” the HSPDP president added.
He said that in its 70 years of existence as a party, the HSPDP has been able to produce 70 members in the KHADC and JHADC and even in the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council in the past.
Pangniang also said that the party has been able to produce 50 MLAs in the state assembly.
“We are going to the public with a strong stance and with clarity even though at times people may feel we may have weakened but we have served the people and keep on doing so since the formation of the state till today,” he added.
The HSPDP president also said that as a party it will not accept laws which are detrimental to the indigenous people of the state made by the majority communities in the centre.
Therefore he said that the party has always urged the centre to amend Para 12 A (b) of the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.
He said that if Para 12 A (b) of the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution is amended the indigenous people of the state will be protected from laws like the Uniform Civil Code.
“We were scared of the CAA but we got protection under the Sixth Schedule,” Pangniang said.
For the KHADC polls Jubanlang Kharbikhiew will contest from Mawkhar-Pynthorumkhrah, Lurshai Lyngwa from Jaiaw-Mawprem, Stodingstar Thabah from Nongspung-Sohiong, Polanding Sohphoh from Mawkyrwat, Badariti Lyngdoh Nonglait from Nongstoiñ and KP Pangniang from Rambrai-Jyrngam constituencies.
For the JHADC elections, the HSPDP announced the names of Wanshuwa Nongtdu from Narpuh and Nehlangki Pala from Sutnga-Nongkhlieh.
