Shillong, Oct 10: The NPP is looking for a new face as its candidate to contest the Shillong Lok Sabha seat.
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, NPP leader and deputy chief minister Sniawbhalang Dhar saud the former Mawsynram legislator Himalaya Shangpliang, who joined the NPP after resigning from BJP, is also a new face because he never contested the Lok Sabha elections before.
“Yes, we are looking for a new face. However, we are yet to decide on the selection of candidates. There are many aspirants so we will see,” Dhar said.
The party is likely to announce the name of its candidate by the end of October.
To a question, Dhar said, “In terms of vote share percentage, we are much higher than the other political parties in the 2023 elections. So why should we face a challenge as we got 3.15 lakh plus vote share while United Democratic Party (UDP) got only 2.90 lakh, Congress 1.60 lakh and Voice of the People Party (VPP) with only 1 lakh plus. So we very much have an upper hand and with the joining of Gavin and Bantei, our vote share has increased, we nearly touch 3.60 lakh now. Further, with the entering of Shangpliang we will get more now. By now our vote bank is 3.70 lakh I think.”
Dhar asserted that the NPP is determined to snatch away the Shillong seat from the Congress.
According to the NPP leader, as far asTura parliamentary seat is concerned, the party will again field the sitting MP Agatha Sangma.
