Shillong, July 29: The Khun Hynñiewtrep National Awakening Movement (KHNAM) has expressed confidence that the party would have representatives in the Assembly after the state election slated to be held early next year.
“We are confident that the people will support the party in the upcoming election,” KHNAM general secretary Batkupar Wahlang told reporters after its CEC meeting which declared the fourth candidate of the party for the upcoming Assembly election in 2018.
KHNAM has named Moses Kharmithai, a professor of Assam University, as its official candidate from Mawryngkneng constituency. Moses and another Ymlahklet Khonglah were two party ticket aspirants.
Earlier, the party has already announced three candidates which include its working president and present MDC of Jaïaw, Adelbert Nongrum, who will be contesting against Health Minister and Congress sitting MLA, Roshan Warjri from North Shillong constituency.
The two others include – Zakhari Shadap from Mawhati, the constituency being represented by jailed Independent MLA, Julius Dorphang, and Ban L. Nongbri, who will be contesting against UDP MLA, Embhahlang Syiemlieh from Mawlai constituency.
It may be mentioned here after former KHNAM leader and MLA Paul Lyngdoh’s decision to merge with the United Democratic Party (UDP) in 2012, the party did not have any representative in the state Assembly.
Stating that party is optimist in its approach towards the state election, Batkupar said that KHNAM would want to field candidates from all 36 constituencies in Khasi-Jaintia region.
“We will try our best to identify and produce candidates who are faithful to the ideology of the party because people aspire to revive KHNAM,” he said.
To a question, Batkupar said that it was high time that the people gave a chance for regional political parties to form the new government taking into consideration failures of national parties to bring development in the state.
On the other hand, KHNAM working president Adelbert Nongrum said that the party’s mission document for the upcoming election will be launched next week.
“The document will highlight various issues including the need to implement Inner Line Permit (ILP), stand against uranium, resolve inter-state boundary dispute with Assam, and reservation policy,” he said.