HSPDP,KHNAM forge alliance

Shillong, May 30 (UNI) The Hill State People's Democratic Party (HSPDP) and Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement (KHNAM) have forged a pre-poll alliance to fight the Assembly elections in Meghalaya early next year.

Addressing newspersons after their first joint meeting here late last evening, HSPDP president H S Lyngdoh and KHNAM chief Paul Lyngdoh said both the parties stet decided to forge a pre-poll alliance after discussions amongst their ranks and files.

The HSPDP and KHNAM, which have two legislators each in the present 60-member House, formed an election committee to decide on the seats and candidates for the Assembly polls.

A manifesto-drafting committee was also formed under the leadership of Professor Aris Basaiawmoit, Mr Lyngdoh added.

Mr Lyngdoh, who is also the Urban Affairs Minister in the Congress-led Meghalaya Democratic Alliance government, informed that both the parties also decided to withdraw from the now defunct Regional People's Alliance (RPA).

The RPA, a conglomeration of four regional parties - the United Democratic Party, Meghalaya Democratic Party, HSPDP and KHNAM - was formed in 2004, when the regional parties fielded a common candidate for the Lok Sabha elections.

Meanwhile, both the parties decided to form a joint coordination committee to work out the pre-poll alliance modalities in the run up to next year's Assembly elections.

UNI