Shillong, Aug. 30: The People's Democratic Front (PDF), which will contest the Assembly elections, received a shot in the arm today as 12 members of the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) joined the party.

The 12 members, including Grace Mary Kharpuri, who joined the new political party floated on March 31, are confident about their candidature in various seats in the polls that is likely to be held in February-March.

All the council members -H.S. Shylla, L.G. Nongsiej, Latiplang Kharkongor, James Ban Basaiawmoit, James Sylliang, Banteidor Lyngdoh, Hadrian Lyngdoh, Arbinus Lyngdoh, Morningstar Mawsor, Victor Rani and Blandingstar Warjri - were formally inducted into the party by PDF acting president Ivanlumlang Marbaniang at a function here.

With the joining of these members, the PDF has become the single largest party in the 29-member council. The PDF has been registered with the Election Commission recently and is applying for a symbol.

All the while, these members remained Independent candidates after leaving their respective parties and have been supporting suspended Congress MLA/MDC, P.N. Syiem, the chief executive member of the KHADC.

Syiem is yet to join the PDF as he has to first give up his membership in the Assembly. Some speakers said Syiem would take over the leadership and lead the PDF.

The PDF members lambasted the state government for its alleged failure to come up with policies for the betterment of the people.

They termed it a "policy-less government" and claimed that things would change if the PDF comes to power in 2018.

Marbaniang said the PDF would release the first list of its candidates for the polls by next month.

"We are yet to be sure in how many seats we shall put up candidates but we will not have any pre-poll understanding with any party," he said.

Apart from fielding candidates in 36 seats in the Khasi and Jaiñtia region, the PDF would also put up contestants in Garo hills that has 24 Assembly segments, he added.