Riangdo – With the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) elections set for February 21, 2025, Gardinal Sohshang, the National People’s Party (NPP) candidate from the 29 Mawshynrut District Council Constituency, is expressing strong confidence in his chances of securing victory.
Sohshang attributed the party’s growing support to the NPP-led Meghalaya government’s comprehensive development agenda, noting that the people have embraced the NPP for its ongoing efforts in state development.
Speaking at a campaign event at his residence in Jenepih village, Riangdo, Sohshang emphasized the widespread enthusiasm among voters, which he believes stems from the government’s continued progress under the NPP’s leadership.
Should he win, Sohshang pledged to work towards the protection of Khasi customary laws and the Khasi Social Custom of Clan Administration Bill, 2020, which is central to the protection of Khasi-Jaintia tribe’s rights. The bill aims to regulate the matrilineal structure and prevent fraudulent claims of Khasi status by non-tribals using Khasi surnames for personal gain.
Sohshang faces strong competition, notably from the *Hill State People’s Democratic Party (HSPDP), which is his primary rival in the race. In the 2023 Meghalaya State Assembly elections, HSPDP’s Methodius Dkhar defeated the NPP’s Gigur Myrthong by a significant margin of 5,187 votes. Despite this, Sohshang remains optimistic, confident that NPP’s governance track record will help him win over voters.
The Mawshynrut constituency has a diverse voter base of over 40,000 voters, with approximately 10,000 Garo voters and the remaining coming from the Khasi community. Sohshang aims to secure 15,000–20,000 votes based on the developmental promises and governance record of the NPP-led government.
“This time, unlike the 2023 Assembly elections, we are seeing a broader contest with multiple parties involved, including the NPP, BJP, INC, HSPDP, VPP, UDP, and independent candidates. However, I am confident that the people of Mawshynrut understand the importance of NPP leadership and the real development it can bring,” Sohshang stated.
The NPP is contesting 25 out of 29 KHADC constituencies, with notable exceptions in Mawlai, Jaiaw, Laban-Mawprem, and Nongkrem constituencies.
The KHADC is one of three autonomous district councils in Meghalaya, along with the Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council (JHADC) and Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC), governing the tribal regions of the state. The upcoming elections will be a significant indicator of the political landscape in the state.
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