SHILLONG: The rout of the Congress in Assam at the hands of the BJP and its allies is already tempting non-Congress parties in Meghalaya to come together for the 2018 Assembly polls in the Hills State.
Sources say that though the Assembly election is still two years away, some of the non-Congress political parties are already open to the idea of forming an alliance to defeat the Congress in Meghalaya.
The United Democratic Party (UDP) for one is in favour of forming an “alliance of likeminded parties” in the state for the 2018 Assembly elections.
UDP working president Jemino Mawthoh said that the party is open to alliance with likeminded parties like the NPP and other regional parties for the next Assembly polls.
He, however, said that it was still too early to decide on whether the party wanted to go for a pre-poll or a post poll alliance with national player BJP.
“We have to be realistic and move forward for an alliance,” Mawthoh said.
Stating that the UDP was jubilant over the win of NPP in Tura by poll, he said that Congress was on its way out (of the state) and people in the state wanted change.
He said that the Congress faced strong anti-incumbency factor and added that the State Government has failed miserably to live up to the expectations of the voters.
“Central schemes are not forthcoming anymore and people are disgruntled with what is happening in Meghalaya,” he said adding that regional forces are becoming stronger in the State.
Meanwhile, HSPDP leader Ardent Basaiawmoit while congratulating Conrad Sangma said that people in Meghalaya have now joined the rest of the country in ensuring the ouster of Congress.
Asked about alliance with other parties in the run-up to the 2018 Assembly elections, he said that it is too early for him to say anything on the matter.
KHNAM leader Adelbert Nongrum said that the result in Tura was a positive sign in the state and indicated that “people are fed up of the Congress”.
He said that Conrad Sangma’s victory is a blessing for Garo Hills and the state as a whole, as there are expectations that Meghalaya will produce a real statesman who would present the problems of Garo Hills and the State in the Parliament.
All the three political parties had extended support to Conrad for the Tura by poll.
UDP leader Mawthoh thanked all the party workers in Garo Hills for ensuring the victory of Conrad.
