By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: UDP working president Bindo Mathew Lanong has exuded confidence that his party will form the next government with like minded parties sans Congress.
“Mark my word on the counting day, we (UDP) will win not less than 20 seats and we might reach upto 26 mark,” Lanong told reporters after filing his nominations here on Monday, the fifth day of submission of nomination of candidates.
According to him, the party is confident of winning all the four seats in Ri-Bhoi and as many as four out of the seven seats under Shillong parliamentary constituency.
“We are also hoping to win four out of the seven seats in Jaintia Hills,” Lanong said.
On the party performance in the East and West Khasi Hills, he said the party is expected to win at least eight seats from both these districts.
“If the party fails to get absolute majority,” the UDP working president said that they would be looking to form the Government with the support of all the like-minded parties.
When ask if the like-minded parties include Congress, he said, “There is a general feeling among people that Congress this time should sit in the opposition.”
“It would be a great thing to see Congress playing a constructive role in the opposition,” Lanong said.
Reacting to the statement of MPCC chief DD Lapang that the problem of infighting is prevailing in all the political parties including UDP, he said, “It is a misleading statement.”
On his own prospect, he said the trend is encouraging.
While people are predicting that his contest against Congress candidate Ampareen Lyngdoh in Shillong East would be close one, Lanong said it would be a landslide victory in his favour “since Ampareen this time is facing a veteran politician and not a green horn.”