By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: UDP working president and Deputy Chief Minister Bindo M Lanong set at rest all speculations about the party’s possible pull out from the Congress-led MUA Government, saying that the UDP would continue to support the MUA coalition till the party finds a ‘good reason’ to quit.
“If there is a good reason why not?” Lanong said on Friday when asked by reporters whether the UDP will quit the MUA coalition as hinted by the other UDP working president Paul Lyngdoh.
The recent central executive committee meeting of the UDP did not take any final decision on pulling out of the MUA coalition, Lanong added.
Lanong was also of the opinion that ‘there are problems even in single-party governments’.
Basaiawmoit will contest from UDP: Lanong
Lanong on Friday sought to clear the air over the association of its legislator Ardent M Basaiawmoit with the party, saying that he is very much with the party.
With Basaiawmoit maintaining a distance, there were reports that the legislator from Nongkrem will not contest on a UDP ticket in the next election.
However, UDP working president Bindo M Lanong informed that Basaiawmoit will definitely contest from the UDP in the next elections. “He has agreed to contest on a UDP ticket and there is no question of withdrawing from the fray,” Lanong said, adding that Basaiawmoit will submit his application for the party ticket soon.
Earlier on May 17, the UDP had served a notice to Basaiawmoit asking him to clarify his stand whether he will contest from the party in the Assembly elections. The notice was served after Basaiawmoit had expressed doubts about the ideology of the party.
During the state election committee meeting held on April 23 last, the party had released the first list of 26 candidates including the names of 10 sitting legislators to contest the Assembly polls.
However, during the said meeting, Basaiawmoit raised questions about the ideology and philosophy of the party and wanted the party leaders to clarify on the issues raised by him, forcing the UDP leadership to serve the notice on him.
Incidentally, Basaiawmoit is yet to submit his reply to the notice.
