Shillong, Dec 3: The National People’s Party (NPP) had decided to field candidates in all the 29 seats of Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) as the party has closed the process of receipt of applications for party tickets.
“We will field candidates from all 29 constituencies,” NPP working president and cabinet minister Marcuise N Marak told reporters on Wednesday.
However, he said, the party has not finalised the candidates as of now.
“We have closed receipt of applications for party sponsorship or party tickets. We will be examining and shortly we will be having our election committee meeting to decide the next course of action,” he said.
The NPP has received multiple applications from various constituencies, with three to seven candidates vying for the ticket from each constituency.
Meanwhile, the NPP leader has dismissed the Congress party’s claims of gaining ground in Garo Hills following the rejoining of former Rangsakona legislator Zenith Sangma and other leaders.
“We have defeated Zenith Sangma’s wife and won the Gambegre bye-election, so we are confident of our performance,” Marak said.
He acknowledged the Congress party’s efforts but downplayed its chances, saying, “We consider that challenges are part of the game, but I would not say it is a challenge. We will see in the elections, but definitely, that should not be a problem for us.”
