A third “progressive” candidate under the KAM banner was announced today.
Wanpynhun Kharsyntiew, a resident of Malki who has been at the forefront in the fight for the rights of domestic workers, will be running for the East Shillong seat at the next state elections, which have to be held by March 2023.
KAM is a political platform but is not a registered party as yet. Its other two candidates – Angela Rangad (South Shillong) and Kyrsoibor Pyrtuh (North Shillong) – are independent candidates at the moment.
Both Rangad and Pyrtuh were at the function to announce Kharsyntiew’s candidature. They said that she has been working with domestic workers to ensure their rights for the past 18 years.
Khasyntiew, who will have to go up against incumbent MLA Ampareen Lyngdoh, stated that though Meghalaya is currently celebrating 50 years of statehood, its successive governments have still yet to come up with a law in favour of unorganised sector workers and labourers.
Asked about how three ordinary citizens will take on established politicians with deep pockets, Rangad said that the ideas of KAM will be the counter to money power and that the people must carefully consider whether they want meaningful development that is not reserved for a few privileged families.
“We are different from each and every political party that is in the fray because you can check our track record from the work we have done,” she added. “Our emphasis and our belief remains crystal clear. It is about ensuring the greater common good for all and to ensure that rights of people are guaranteed.”
She added that nothing is impossible if people understand that together they can defeat the powers of corruption and criminality.
