The Hill State People’s Democratic Party (HSPDP) on Thursday announced that it will neither field a
candidate nor support the United Democratic Party (UDP) nominee in the upcoming Shillong Lok Sabha by-election.
Addressing a press conference, HSPDP president K.P. Pangniang said the party had decided against contesting the bypoll as there was very little time for preparations. He also said the party would not extend support to the UDP candidate following differences within the Regional Democratic Alliance (RDA) over the selection of a consensus nominee.
Pangniang recalled that the HSPDP had backed the UDP candidate under the RDA banner in the previous two Lok Sabha elections.
However, he said the
alliance partners could not arrive at a consensus this time.
“As a party, we wanted to field our own candidate on the HSPDP symbol after discussions. However, we could not reach a consensus within the RDA,” he said.
With the party staying out of the contest, Pangniang said the HSPDP would leave it to its supporters to decide whom they wish to support in the by-election.