MDA coordination panel to decide candidate: Meghalaya Deputy CM Prestone Tynsong

A REPORTER

SHILLONG: Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong on Monday said that the issue of common candidate will have to be deliberated in the coordination committee of the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA).

“As of now, they are yet to discuss the issue of common candidate for both Shillong and Tura Parliamentary seats. The right forum to discuss this issue is in the coordination committee which consists of all the allies of the MDA,” Tynsong who is also the senior NPP leader said while speaking to reporters here today.

When asked that the UDP had been insisting that party candidate should be given an opportunity to contest as the common candidate from the Shillong seat, he said that he had seen this view of the UDP in the media. “But I would not be able to comment anything on this since the matter is yet to be officially discussed in the MDA,” Tynsong said.

When asked that the UDP working president, Bindo Mathew Lanong had stated there is threat to the MDA Government if they do not have consensus on the issue of common candidate, he said that he does not see any threat to the MDA coalition. “We would find an acceptable solution to the issue of common candidate once all the allies of the coalition sits and deliberates on this issue,” Deputy Chief Minister.

He however indicated that the meeting of the coordination committee would be held only after the return of Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma from abroad.

Meanwhile, he insisted that the NPP-led MDA Cabinet is working as a team. “The MDA Government is run collectively.” he said.

When asked if the NPP is considering contesting from both Shillong and Tura, he said that the party is yet to think on that line.