Shillong, Oct 23: The National People’s Party (NPP) exuded confidence that it would lead in forming Executive Committee in both the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) and Jaiñtia Hills Autonomous District Council (JHADC) after the elections to the District Councils next year.

“We are determined to win so that we can form the Executive Committee in both the Councils,” NPP state president WR Kharlukhi told reporters.

The NPP leader made the statement after welcoming former BJP leaders from Jaiñtia Hills who joined the party here on Tuesday.

According to Kharlukhi, the fight in the upcoming elections will be mainly between the NPP and its ally, the United Democratic Party (UDP).

“The NPP at present has got the highest vote shares followed by the UDP and the opposition Congress,” he said.

The NPP has already set up two Election Committees for selection of candidates who will contest the elections to both the District Councils.

An Election Committee for JHADC is being headed by C&RD minister Sniawbhalang Dhar and the NPP working president is heading the Committee for KHADC.

He announced that the party would contest from all the 29 seats each in KHADC and JHADC and will soon invite applications from interested candidates.

Meanwhile, the three who joined the NPP include former Deputy Chairman of JHADC Seiborlang Shadap and two former leaders of the BJP East Jaintia Hills – Zosiama Thianglai (vice president) and Rolling Dkhar (organizing secretary).

All of them have decided to contest the upcoming 2019 elections to the JHADC and urged the NPP to consider allotting tickets to them with the assurance to put up a good fight.

Shadap lost the 2014 elections by 19 votes, is seeking re-election from Sutnga-Narwan constituency. Thianglai, a former youth leader from Saipung area, is looking forward to contest from Saipung constituency and Dkhar from Soomer constituency.

Thianglai had unsuccessfully contested the 2014 MDC elections. The former BJP East Jaintia Hills vice president informed that the BJP has been dissolved in Saipung area.

They said that they have decided to join the NPP which is growing fast in the state as a party and after seeing the collapse of the BJP in Meghalaya due to “communal reasons”.