SHILLONG: The UDP chief Donkupar Roy has predicted a UDP-led coalition government in 2018 with his party and NPP jointly securing 32 seats in the 60-member Assembly.
Speaking to The Shillong Times on Saturday, Roy reiterated UDP’s decision to go for pre-poll alliance with likeminded parties including NPP.
“If there is a pre-poll alliance I am sure that UDP and NPP will easily get more than 32 seats, and we will form the next government”, Roy said.
Asked about BJP, the UDP leader said that BJP too is preparing for the 2018 Assembly elections.
“While BJP is targeting to throw out Congress from Meghalaya, our aim is to win the elections to secure maximum seats to from the next government”, Roy said.
The UDP president said that currently, the party was trying to strengthen its base aimed at spreading the activities of the party all over the state.
“We feel that the party is getting rejuvenated. There is enthusiasm among the party workers. Our current priority is to strengthen and expand the party and the issue of alliance will be firmed up after 2016”, Roy said.
According to Roy, the party was hoping to do better this time and even wanted to take inspiration from 1998 when the party had secured 20 seats in the polls.
“We hope to do better compared to previous elections. We are trying to revamp the party all over the state, and the Congress which used to dominate the state politics, will be on the wane after the 2018 polls”, he said.
Asked how sure is UDP to form the next government with likeminded parties, Roy said, “I am 100 percent sure that a non- Congress government will be formed after the next Assembly polls and our party men are active to ensure the victory. In many places, several people are joining the party and those who had left us are also coming back to us”, he said
The UDP leader further pointed out that there are persons from other political parties who are keen to join the party.
Post poll deal, an alliance of opportunists
Asked about HSPDP which is planning to go it alone in 2018 Assembly polls aiming at a post poll alliance, the UDP leader said that he wishes to have the pre-poll alliance of all like-minded political parties though he is not against post poll alliances.
“However, I feel that any post poll alliance will be very loose one, and I will call it as an alliance of opportunists. I have seen in the past that such alliances do not last long. In this context, I feel that we must have a pre poll alliance, and in this regard, we already have an understanding with NPP”, Roy said.’
The UDP leader also made it clear that the newly launched North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA) is aimed at securing the common interests of the people of Northeast especially to focus on development of the region instead of fighting elections under its banner.
