The Regional Democratic Alliance (RDA) comprising UDP and HSPDP has decided to field former HYC president Robertjune Kharjahrin from the Shillong Parliamentary seat for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.
Kharjahrin will contest on the symbol of the UDP, the drum.
RDA chairman and UDP president, Metbah Lyngdoh said that during the meeting held today, only the name of Kharjahrin was discussed.
“This shows that the RDA is united and also we are at the same mental level as far as this Lok Sabha election goes,” Lyngdoh said.
He also said that during the meeting it was also decided that the coalition will continue even for the district council elections.
Meanwhile, RDA secretary and HSPDP president, KP Pangniang said that during the meeting there was threadbare discussion on the symbol of the RDA but added that whosever party’s candidate was chosen to contest the polls, that party’s symbol will be represented.
Pangniang said that if the RDA had to apply for a common symbol by the time the Election Commission approves of it, this will be difficult for the coalition to go to the electorates.
“But with the spirit of cooperation, respect for each other and spirit of unification of regional parties for the good of the indigenous people we decided to urge our party members and supporters to vote on the symbol of the drum,” the HSPDP president said.
So far, two political parties have announced their candidates for the Lok Sabha election from the State.
NPP has named cabinet minister Ampareen Lyngdoh for the Shillong seat and sitting MP Agatha Sangma for the Tura seat.
The VPP has fielded its general secretary Ricky A J Syngkon as the candidate from Shillong seat.
The Congress however has decided to complete the process of identifying the candidates from the two seats by January 2024. The final decision will be taken by the party high command.