Shillong, Apr 9: The National People’s Party (NPP) is adamant that it is not considering any pre-poll alliance for the upcoming Shillong Lok Sabha by-election even as it is yet to finalise its candidate.
Speaking to reporters today, NPP state working president and cabinet minister Marcuise N Marak said that the party is continuing with its independent political approach. “You have seen Meghalaya politics – we don’t have a pre-poll alliance,” he said.
The by-election was necessitated by the sudden death of the incumbent MP, Ricky AJ Syngkon in February. The Voice of the People Party (VPP) candidate had won a landslide in the general election in 2024, with the NPP’s then candidate, sitting MLA Ampareen Lyngdoh, finishing third. That year the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chose not to field a candidate but instead supported Lyngdoh.
On the issue of the Rajya Sabha nomination, Marak informed that a decision will be taken soon. Wanweiroy Kharlukhi’s term is set to end in June and he is not seeking re-election. As the NPP and its allies have a massive majority in the Meghalaya Assembly, the party’s choice should sail through the election, which should be a mere formality.
Commenting on the party’s prospects in Assam, which went to the polls today, Marak said the response from the ground has been encouraging. “The response is very good, but let us see. We are hopeful of opening an account and are keeping our fingers crossed,” he said. The party has fielded three candidates this year.
