The battle between national parties for votes in the 2023 state election will be a blessing in disguise for the likes of the Hill State People’s Democratic Party (HSPDP) and other regional outfits.
This was the opinion of HSPDP president KP Pangniang, who addressed reporters here today after a party meeting. The HSPDP currently has just two MLAs in the 60-member Assembly and is part of the ruling Meghalaya Democratic Alliance coalition.
“I don’t see any threat to the regional parties like the HSPDP coming from the Trinamool Congress. All we see is that the tussling between the national parties will be a blessing in disguise for the regional parties,” Pangniang said.
The HSPDP has an alliance within the MDA with the United Democratic Party, known as the Regional Democratic Alliance, and Pangniang expressed a hope that other local political forces will join soon.
Despite its minor representation, there is no threat to the HSPDP, whose base lies in West, Eastern West and South West Khasi Hills, because the people know of its “massive” contribution to the people over the last 53 years, he added.
With Meghalaya celebrating its 50th year of statehood this year, the HSPDP is keen to remind the public that it was at the forefront of the campaign to carve Meghalaya out of undivided Assam, even if it would rather prefer separate states for the Garo and Khasi-Jaiñtia people.
Meanwhile, the HSPDP’s youth wing has decided to start an online and offline enrolment drive of youth in Khasi-Jaiñtia Hills.
The youth wing also plans to organise a bike rally for the 50th anniversary celebrations and also organise workshops and seminars on the Sixth Schedule and Eighth Schedule, essay writing and other programmes.
The party also wants recognition from the state government for its contribution towards statehood, with Pangniang stating that more than 300 HSPDP members were jailed by Assam during the campaign.
