SHILLONG, MAY 5: The NPP will announce its candidate for the Shillong Lok Sabha byelection after its general executive meeting scheduled for May 7, with talks now in the “final stage,” Cabinet Minister and NPP state youth president Wailadmiki Shylla said.

“Definitely, we are in the final stage of a talk, so definitely will have a candidate. I urge our friends from the press, please bear with us just one or two days, so definitely you will get the news,” Shylla said on Tuesday.

He confirmed the plan to declare the candidate this week. “Yes, on 7 we are having general executive meeting and that is the plan to announce candidate,” he said.

On the Rajya Sabha seat, Shylla acknowledged that James Sangma’s name was among those being discussed, but stressed that the decision lies with the party leadership.

“Discussion is still on, so no doubt his name has come but I think it’s up to the party high command to sit and finalise on the names,” he said.

According to him, the party is considering multiple contenders. “As of now there are 4-5 names which have come up which I think it’s very soon for me to share. It’s up to the party high command to sit and decide,” Shylla said.

He declined to comment further, noting that no formal meeting on the RS seat had been called yet. “Right now I think I cannot comment on that because we have not called a meeting on that, so I think it will be soon enough before time,” he said.

Addressing regional claims to the lone Rajya Sabha seat, Shylla said such demands were expected. “Different areas will have their different way of thinking. Since there is a single seat of Rajya Sabha in the state, definitely all the regions would want,” he said.

“It won’t be new or surprising. Even from Jaintia Hills also would want that the MP will be from Jaintia or Khasi. That will be there, but it is up to the party high command to decide whom the party sees fit to send to Delhi and raise our issue of the state,” Shylla added.