National People’s Party (NPP) MDC in the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) Teibor Pathaw has decided to contest the upcoming polls as an independent candidate.
Pathaw’s decision came after his supporters urged him not to contest the February 21 KHADC election from the NPP.
According to his supporters, the NPP is hugely unpopular in the Khasi-Jaintia Hills region due to allegations of corruption and its connection with the BJP.
It may be mentioned that Pathaw was defeated by Voice of the People Party candidate Brightstarwell Marbaniang in the 2023 Assembly election and as a sitting MDC he is wary of losing the seat and therefore might have opted for a safe route.
During a meeting held today, Pathaw said that as a MDC he has done many works for the people of Mawlai constituency.
It may be mentioned that the NPP which is leading the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) 2.0 government in the state won only eight seats from the Khasi-Jaintia Hills region.
However its strength has increased to 13 after People’s Democratic Front (PDF) legislators Banteidor Lyngdoh (Mawkynrew) and Gavin M Mylliem merged with the NPP immediately after the 2023 election.
Subsequently in August 2024 three Congress MLAs, Celestine Lyngdoh (Umsning), Charles Marngar (Mawhati), and Gabriel Wahlang (Nongstoin) defected to the NPP.
