Anti-incumbency not to affect NPP’s prospect in ADC polls: Dhar

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaJanuary 8, 2025

National People’s Party (NPP) national general secretary and deputy chief minister Sniawbhalang Dhar on Wednesday said the anti-incumbency factor will not affect the party in the upcoming elections to the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) and Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council (JHADC), which are slated to be held on February 21.

His statement came as a reaction to the recent decision of sitting Mawlai MDC Teiborlang Pathaw to quit the party just close on the heels to the elections.

When sought for his comment on this, Dhar said, “No don’t ask me, it is up to them (MDCs). We will give a good fight in this election. As a party, we are ready to go for election and hopefully we will get a good majority.”

He also said that there is no anti-incumbency that is working against the NPP. “Even if it is there also, we will have to work hard,” Dhar added.

The deputy CM further claimed that there are many who want to contest from the NPP and said, “Somebody wants to go and somebody wants to come, that is the usual process during elections.”

Stating that the VPP is not a threat for the NPP, Dhar said, “No, they (VPP) are not (a threat to NPP) as it is different from one constituency to another. It is not the same formula, not the same system…”

“Our expectation is that we will form the EC on our own in both the ADCs in the Khasi and Jaintia Hills,” he added.