Shillong, Oct 17: The Hill State People’s Democratic Party (HSPDP) on Tuesday asked Nongkrem MDC, H.S. Shylla not to challenge only in newspapers but join the electoral in 2018 to justify his claim that he would issue “red card” to Nongkrem MLA, Ardent M. Basaiawmoit.
A statement issued by the president, Dibinson Pyngrope and general secretary, Hubert Riang of the HSPDP Nongkrem constituency unit ridiculed the claim that Basaiawmoit has no more place in Nongkrem constituency if Shylla joined the fray from Nongkrem constituency in the upcoming Assembly election to be held in February-March next year.
“The HSPDP Nongkrem constituency was not surprised by such remark because Shylla has the habit of challenging only in newspapers, but did not dare to show action. If Shylla really wanted to challenge, and as he claimed that he would issue red card in the 2018 Assembly election, he better not to challenge only in newspapers, but should come forward and fight the Assembly election. Then we will see, who will be the winner,” the statement said.
It may be recalled that on December 16 last year after he emerged victorious in the bye-election to the KHADC from Nongkrem constituency, Shylla claimed that his victory clearly suggested that “The era of Ardent has come to an end in Nongkrem.”
Shylla, who the bye-election as candidate of the UDP, has now joined the newly floated political party, People’s Democratic Front (PDF).
Shylla secured 6,097 votes where he defeated his nearest rival, Congress candidate, Lamborsing Nongrum who polled 4,198 votes. The HSPDP candidate, Hubert Ford Riang came third with 4,122 votes.
Taking a jibe at the HSPDP chief, Basaiawmoit who is the MLA of Nongkrem, Shylla had said that since the HSPDP candidate secured third position, “I thought of issuing them yellow card. However after the result today (December 16, last year), the move to issue yellow card has turned into a red card.”
Terming the bye-election from Nongkrem a semi final, Shylla also said, “Since the HSPDP has failed in the semi final (bye-election), I feel that only the winners are fit to be in the final (state Assembly election in 2018).”