Shillong Feb 3: Two candidates including Executive Member of the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC), Latiplang Kharkongor submitted their nomination papers on Saturday.

On Saturday, a notification for holding the elections to the KHADC and Jaiñtia Hills Autonomous District Council (JHADC) was issued, and the model code of conduct has also come into force.

The other candidate who filed the nomination was Congress nominee, Fantin J. Lakadong, who is the husband of Congress legislator from East Shillong, Ampareen Lyngdoh.

Lakadong is contesting from Laitumkhrah-Malki constituency.

Kharkongor, the three-time MDC from Nongthymmai constituency is contesting as Independent this time and he was accompanied by relatives and supporters. He submitted his nomination papers before Returning Officer, M Lakiang.

Kharkongor said that he was confident of retaining the Nongthymmai seat for the fourth consecutive time in this election. Latiplang was consecutively elected in 2004, 2009 and 2014 elections.

On Meghalaya building byelaws where the KHADC has to implement the same building byelaws of the state government, Kharkongor said that from the beginning, the discussion was on the need to implement the building byelaws of the Council so that the people would not face difficulty while applying for permission to construct their house.

“It cannot be accepted if the same building byelaws implemented by the state government through the Meghalaya Urban Development Authority (MUDA) has to be implemented by the Council. If this is the case, this matter has to be discussed again by the new Executive Committee of the Council,” Kharkongor said.

Meanwhile Lakadong said that he cannot comment whether he will win or not the election, but he would wait for March 2, the day when the results would be declared.

Lakadong said that he would try to address problems face by farmers, provide electricity to villages, health care, besides other developmental activities like footpath, youth development through sports among others

He also said that he would study all bills of the KHADC if elected as member from Laitumkhrah-Malki.

Lakadong submitted his nominations before the Returning Officer, M.B. Tongper and he was accompanied by his wife, Ampareen Lyngdoh and hundreds of supporters.