TURA: The regional United Democratic Party (UDP) has set the ball rolling for the 2018 assembly elections in the state with its top leaders landing in the crucial Garo Hills region to hold rallies in the early part of this week.
The five districts of Garo Hills have always been the Achilles heel for the regional party which drew a blank in the last state polls from the western part of the state that sends up 24 legislators.
Not to be outdone this time, the party has already announced candidatures for as many as three assembly seats in the Garo Hills urging upon voters to ensure their victory.
The UDP is fielding Arun N Marak for the Songsak constituency currently held by NPP’s Nihim D Shira. Songsak was once a UDP bastion from where former GSU leader Heltone N Marak had contested on the party ticket and won. Midway through his tenure tragedy occurred and Heltone Marak died in a helicopter crash at Kyrdemkulai along with two other legislators, Ardhendu Chaudhuri and Cyprian R Sangma, and several other persons.
The current UDP candidate for Songsak, Arun N Marak, is the younger brother of the late legislator and the UDP’s Paul Lyngdoh is promising a cabinet berth for him in the eventuality of his party gaining power in the state.
The party has also announced the candidature of Barthus Marak for the Rongjeng seat currently held by Sengnam Marak of the Congress. With an aim to swing voters towards its side, the party has announced at a public rally that it would ensure Rongjeng is upgraded into a civil sub-division if the UDP wins the polls.
Another constituency that the regional party is nursing for the upcoming elections is North Tura seat currently held by Congress’ Noverfield R Marak. The UDP president Donkuper Roy visited Tura on Wednesday and held a public meeting at Rongkhon Derangittim locality to push through for the candidature of Utpal Arengh.
The party has already begun a campaign of targeting the ruling Congress in the state accusing it of failing on all fronts including development.
