With just 50 days left until the elections to the two district councils, many political parties have not released their complete list of contenders.
The election to the Khasi and Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Councils has been scheduled for February 21.
So far, only the Voice of the People Party (VPP) has announced its candidates for both the district councils. Other parties, although some have announced the first and second lists, others have not yet announced their candidates.
The National People’s Party (NPP), which is leading the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) coalition government, has not yet been able to announce its candidates in all constituencies of the KHADC and JHADC even after releasing its list of candidates twice.
NPP working president Hamletson Dohling said that the delay in announcing the names of candidates is due that some constituencies have to be carefully scrutinised as a large number of candidates have applied for tickets.
“We expect to be able to announce the final list very soon,” he said. However, it is understood that the party will not contest in all the 29 constituencies of the KHADC.
Meanwhile, the United Democratic Party (UDP) has recently released its second list but has not been able to name all the candidates.
“In the next 10 days we will be able to announce the remaining list,” said UDP president, Metbah Lyngdoh.
The Congress has also not filled up the spots as the party announced its first list while the next list is expected this month.
The HSPDP as well as the KHNAM have already announced their candidates in some constituencies of both the district councils.
All that remains is for the BJP to announce their list. “At least next month (February) we will be able to announce the list of candidates because until now we have to consider the candidates,” said the BJP leaders.
