Shillong, Jan 14: The Congress Party will field candidates in all 29 seats of the upcoming Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) elections, the party announced today.
Senior figure in the state Congress, Manuel Badwar, said that 67 people have applied for party tickets.
“We are building the party block by block and are hopeful to perform well in Garo Hills this time,” Badwar said, adding that the party is looking for qualified, vocal and job-fit candidates with knowledge of the Sixth Schedule.
The party is prioritising candidates committed to working for the welfare of the indigenous population, rather than using the district council as a platform for bigger opportunities. “District council should be a proper governance for the Sixth Schedule areas and indigenous people,” Badwar stated.
The list of candidates will be finalised only after the election is formally announced.
The Congress had done well in 2021 to claim 12 seats. It was the largest party overall but did not have a majority and could not cobble one together with other MDCs. Instead, the National People’s Party (which won 11 seats) roped in enough members to claim a majority. Subsequent defections then hit the party hard.
