By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: UDP will prefer to sit in the Opposition if it falls short of necessary number in the election to the State Assembly than joining any Congress-led government, said UDP working president BM Lanong.
“We would assess the situation after the election. We would not have any problem in sitting on the Opposition bench,” Lanong said after the release of the party’s election manifesto here on Monday.
Taking a dig at the opponents who are alleging that the UDP would do anything to be in power, he said, “UDP is not a power-hungry party.”
Justifying his party’s decision to join the Congress-led MUA Government after the collapse of the MPA Government, Lanong said the party was compelled to join the MUA Government after it learnt about the possibility of NCP striking a deal with Congress.
It may be recalled that soon after the 2008 elections NCP and UDP along with some other regional parties namely HSPDP, and KHNAM had formed the MPA.
“It was Congress which had informed us about the former NCP general secretary’s move,” the UDP working president said.
On the claim of some Congress leaders that the UDP had come begging to be included in the Government, he said on the contrary it was Congress which had requested UDP to join the government.
“Everyone is aware that Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma and the former NCP general secretary (Purno) cannot stand each other. It is impossible for the two to work from one platform,” Lanong said adding “This is one of the reasons which compelled Congress to invite UDP to join the Government.”
When asked if the party already had struck a post-poll alliance deal with NPP, Lanong said the party would take a call on all these factors only after the announcement of the results.
Meanwhile, another UDP working president, Paul Lyngdoh said that the MPA coalition was a “loose arrangement”.
Lyngdoh, who was blamed for the downfall of the MPA Government, said lack of trust among the coalition partners led to the fall of Donkupar Roy-led government.
When asked if he regretted his decision to leave the MPA Government, Lyngdoh said, “I do not believe in having regrets, but I believe in learning lessons (from experiences).”
