RDA to field ex-HYC chief as common candidate from Shillong LS seat

The United Democratic Party (UDP) and Hill State People’s Democratic Party (HSPDP) on Tuesday jointly announced their decision to field former president of the Hynniewtrep Youth Council (HYC) Robertjune Kharjahrin as the common candidate of the Regional Democratic Alliance (RDA) from Shillong parliamentary seat in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, to be held next year.

Kharjahrin had just recently joined the UDP.

Speaking to reporters after chairing the crucial meeting, RDA chairman and UDP chief Metbah Lyngdoh said, “The UDP and HSPDP have unanimously come to a consensus to field Robertjune Kharjahrin as the alliance’s candidate for the Shillong parliamentary seat.”

Lyngdoh informed that it was also agreed that the common candidate will use the symbol of the UDP during the election campaigning and polling day.

Along with Kharjahrin, Khasi Author’s Society president Dr DRL Nonglait and former Mawlai MLA PT Sawkmie were also contenders for the UDP ticket. However, Dr Nonglait later decided not to pull out of the race for the UDP ticket citing that he wanted to pursue the demand for inclusion of Khasi language in the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution of India.