By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: UDP president Dr Donkupar Roy has blamed the ‘influence of money power’ for the party’s dismal show in the 2013 Assembly polls.
The biggest regional party in the State, ended with just eight seats in its kitty and will don the role of Opposition in the 9th Meghalaya Legislative Assembly.
“The candidates of the UDP have been the worst affected due to the use of money power by certain political parties. Other political parties have also been affected by this menace,” Dr Roy told reporters here on Friday.
Stating that the use of money power has defeated the spirit of democracy, Dr Roy said that he would not be surprised if qualified and potential candidates refrain from taking part in politics in future if they do not have the money to do so.
“If this happens then only people coming from business background would be able to contest elections. Therefore, there would a void of qualified people inside the Assembly,” he said adding, that people are casting their votes under the influence of money ignoring ‘the call of conscience’.
While citing his personal experience in this election, Dr Roy said that he was surprised to be trailing in some polling stations where he had brought so many developmental projects like hospital, roads and other infrastructure.
“This clearly reflects that people remember only the money which they get during election. The good work of their MLA in the past five years does not matter at all,” he lamented.
Dr Roy said that the use of money at the time of election should be stopped at all cost since it is the common people who are going to suffer as no developmental projects will be initiated by the so-called elected people’s representatives.
Meanwhile, he also informed that the party Central Executive Committee (CEC) would meet on March 13 to carry out a detailed post mortem and analysis of the factors which led to the sorry performance of the party.
The UDP secured eight seats against 10 during the last election and drew blank in Jaintia and Garo Hills. One of its working presidents, Bindo M Lanong, also lost by a huge margin to rival Congress candidate Ampareen Lyngdoh.
The dismal performance means that the UDP would now have to sit on the Opposition’s row in the Assembly.
Earlier on Thursday, another UDP working president Paul Lyngdoh had called upon the need for major revamp in the party to brighten its future prospects. He was echoed by Jeminoh Mawthoh, UDP candidate from Nongthymmai, who defeated Congress’ Charles Pyngrope.