UDP to form special committees with eye on 2018 polls

SHILLONG: With the aim of improving its innings in the 2018 elections, the United Democratic Party (UDP) will constitute special committees which will help in strengthening the party.
Addressing media persons after the executive committee meeting held on Wednesday, UDP working president Jemino Mawthoh said, “The party will constitute a special committee to explore the possibilities of forming an alliance with other parties. The party will study in depth the ideologies of parties to see if they are like-minded.”
“We are not averse to any political alliance provided the other party’s thinking is in line with the objectives of the UDP,” he added.
Stating that the regional party would consult other political parties, he said, “The party is open to alliances and it all depends on the reciprocity of other parties. We leave it to the wisdom of the party leaders whether to go for a pre-poll or post-poll alliance. We are looking for a strong alliance.”
Mawthoh stated that the party is all geared up for the 2018 elections and would soon constitute the state election committee. “We have selected the members and we are trying to speed up the process of selecting probable candidates to contest on UDP ticket,” he said.
Mawthoh said this is part of the move to activate and strengthen the party in the run up to the 2018 elections and expressed hope that the UDP would emerge as the single largest party.
The UDP is also planning to come up with a vision document to focus/deliberate on some of the areas that have been plaguing the state. “We have seen the collapse of different areas of governance in the state and would work collectively to restore good governance,” he said.
When asked on UDP’s decision on the dual posts, Mawthoh said that the party has not decided on whether to ask the same members to contest the MDC elections. “We will solicit the views of those who had resigned,” he added.