By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: In view of the dismal performance of the UDP in the just concluded election in the State, the party’s central executive committee, in a meeting held here on Monday, decided to hold organizational polls in May to strengthen the party.
The United Democratic Party (UDP) registered its worst ever performance in the 2013 election, managing to secure only eight seats.
The party had won as many as 20 seats in the 1998 election, a record of sorts for any regional political outfit.
However, the party failed to recreate the same magic in the subsequent elections and witnessed a drop in the number of seats the party won. In the 2003 election the party’s tally dropped to nine, while in the 2008 polls the party performed slightly better, managing to win 11 seats.
Speaking to The Shillong Times, UDP working president Paul Lyngdoh said revamps will be carried out at all levels and organizational polls would be held at all district units as well in the CEC in May.
Reeling from its worst ever performance, the party has decided to revamp itself in a big way and to prepare a lengthy analysis to find out the loopholes within itself which contributed to the poor performance in the February 23 election.
Monday’s CEC meeting also decided to revamp the party’s core committee, besides resolving to re-organise the district units on the basis of the newly created districts.
“The party had been able to pin-point organizational weakness, lack of resources and inability to identify the candidates in time as some of the main reasons which led to the UDP’s dismal performance in the recent election,” Lyngdoh said.
“We will revamp the party in a big way and have already prepared a lengthy analysis in this regard to make sure that the party recaptures its former political glory,” the UDP working president added.
On the alleged tampering of EVMs in certain constituencies, Lyngdoh stated that complaints have been pouring in on the issue and the party will take up the matter with the Election Commission of India.
