Former independent MLA and current Batabari MDC, Ashahel D Shira, formally joined the United Democratic Party (UDP) and has been confirmed as the party’s candidate for the upcoming Rajabala by-election.
With the confirmation of Ashahel, the fight for the seat has become a four-way battle with Abdus Saleh of the National People’s Party (NPP), Hasina Yasmin Mondal of the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party’s Kingstone B Marak.
Saleh is a two-time MLA from the Congress who contested unsuccessfully in 2013 and 2018.
Ashahel won the Rajabala seat in 2013 by beating Dr Azad Zaman. He was beaten by Dr Zaman, then representing the Congress, in 2018. The latter’s death has necessitated a by-election and Congress will be hoping to hold on to the seat through Dr Zaman’s widow Hasina.
Battle lines have already been drawn for the upcoming election, with former MDC of Balachanda, Sofiur Rehman, promising his support for the NPP candidate. On the flip side, former rival of Dr Zaman, Mizanur Zaman Kazi, has decided to support the Congress candidate after being overlooked by the NPP.
Earlier, Ashahel had expressed his desire to contest the election while he was a part of the Congress but was left disappointed after the party chose Hasina.
Talks between the UDP and Ashahel materialized with the MDC formally joining the party today in Shillong.
Meanwhile, UDP president Metbah Lyngdoh said the party is confident ahead of the polls.
According to him, the UDP was happily surprised by its performance in this year’s GHADC election (though it did not win any seats), which proved that it had been able to make inroads there.
“We did not expect the kind of vote shares we got in the last MDC election. It was very encouraging for us that Garo Hills is one area where we can take part in future elections,” the UDP chief said.
Lyngdoh said that, with regards to Rajabala, the UDP had conducted proper analysis and felt that Shira will win the by-election.
The UDP president also informed that for Mawryngkneng constituency, the party will support the National People’s Party (NPP) candidate Pyniaid Sing Syiem.
