Dr Roy takes strong exception to announcement of candidates
From Our Correspondent
NONGPOH: All is not well in the United Democratic Party (UDP) as dissidence and infighting has reared its ugly head even as the state assembly election is barely ten months away.
The party central leadership on Thursday got into a war of words with one of its circle leader over his claim of securing the party ticket from one of the constituencies in Ri Bhoi district.
Umsning constituency was created following the delimitation process and has become the hot seat for many wannabe politicians from almost all political parties.
One of the parties currently in a dilemma is the UDP with four well known personalities expressing their intention of contesting from Umsning Constituency.
On Thursday, the UDP Umsning Circle went public to announce that Lurshai Wahlang, who is also the president of the Circle and a lawyer, has secured the party ticket by defeating the three other contenders for the prestigious ticket, namely KSU North Khasi Hills president Donkupar Sumer, former Umroi MDC FM Mawphniang and Jennifer Joan Kylla, former school headmistress and sister of RBYF Umsning Circle president.
The Circle maintained that the selection process was held as per the directives of the party Central Body where 19 members representing every part of Umsning Constituency voted to choose the party candidate. Wahlang secured seven votes and the other three managed four votes each respectively.
UDP State President and former Chief Minister Dr Donkupar Roy has taken strong exception to the announcement of candidates by the Umsning Circle.
“The district or circles are not empowered to make such announcements as it is for the party central body to finally give its decision as per party constitution and such announcement is against party principles,” Dr Roy told this reporter when contacted.
Political observers believe there is dissidence in Umsning Circle of the UDP otherwise how could only 19 members decide who the party ticket should be given to.
This move of the Umsning Circle clearly indicates that they are following the diktat of someone and have thereby even flouted the party principles.
“There is someone who is desperate for a ticket. Where are the primary units of the party? Or is it that the UDP does not believe in grass-roots democracy,” the observers quipped.