No pre-poll alliance, will go alone: UDP

SHILLONG: UDP is planning to put up candidates in all the 60 Assembly seats for the 2018 polls.
In response to media reports that suggested that with the help of NPP in Garo Hills and UDP in Khasi Hills, the BJP alliance will form the government in Meghalaya, UDP leader Bindo Lanong said on Tuesday that the party has not thought about helping BJP in Khasi Hills on a pre-poll basis.
According to the UDP leader, the party is keen to contest all the seats and does not favour any pre-poll alliance.
“We are thinking of fielding candidates in all the constituencies as much as possible. BJP is going it alone. We will go on our own. But after the elections, we will decide on the coalition,” Lanong said.
However, the UDP leader said since 1998, the party had indicated its desire to be with the BJP-led NDA.
“We are sticking to that and it was reiterated in Guwahati meetings. However, given the current situation, we feel that UDP will be a major player in 2018 polls. Our stand is clear that we are still with NDA, and in the post-poll scenario, we will take that line with other likeminded parties,” Lanong said.
According to Lanong, pre-poll alliance will create misunderstanding among the partners as everyone will bargain for a particular seat. “When there is no pre-poll alliance, there will be no room for bickering.”
The UDP leader said after the contest, it is good to see people’s support in favour of whichever party they elect.
The UP elections clearly indicate that the Congress will be ousted from power in Meghalaya too for its several failures, said Lanong.
“As a party, we have definite programmes, we mean business. We will contain corruption and expose the lavish style of the Congress. Our leaders showed that our lifestyle is different,” he added.