SHILLONG: The UDP-HSPDP alliance, which was announced on Thursday, drew both criticisms, mainly from the national parties, and appreciation from local political leaders on Friday.
When The Shillong Times asked politicians to solicit their opinion, some described the alliance as a “marriage of convenience” and a few saw it as a fleeting affair.
Congress MLA Deborah Marak said, “They (UDP and HSPDP) are having an affair and we will see how long this continues. The Congress will field candidates in all the 60 seats and we don’t bother about what others are doing.”
BJP leader Bashai Khongwir termed the tie-up between UDP and HSPDP as a marriage of convenience and hoped that they would remain together.
He also said the party does not have any ill-feeling though UDP is part of the BJP-led NEDA. “We wish them well,” he added.
Khongwir said BJP is currently concentrating on strengthening its base. “Our focus is to work hard for strengthening the party so that BJP can secure the desired results,” he added.
State president of National People’s Party (NPP) W.R Kharlukhi said it is good that non-Congress forces are coming together.
The State does not have a history of pre-poll alliances of regional parties and when pointed this out, Kharlukhi said, “It depends. Anything that went wrong in the past can still be good in the future.”
He congratulated UDP and HSPDP for the alliance.
Commenting on the two national parties, he said, “BJP will take time to grow into a real potential in the State politics. As for the Congress, it will bite the dust.”
On alliance with BJP and other regional parties, Kharlukhi said it is difficult but the party will try for it. “Post-poll alliance will be inevitable,” he said.
Adelbert Nongrum, working president of the Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement, said talks for regional parties’ alliance “should not be for the sole objective to win elections but to ensure that the long-pending aspirations of the people are achieved”.
Nongrum, who had earlier asked parties contemplating a regional alliance to take into account past experiences, said on Friday, “History reveals that the regional parties’ alliance is seen as a medium to strengthen one’s position in politics.”
Referring to the UDP-HSPDP alliance, he said, “The party would like to be part of the alliance and not just support it.”
“There is a need to dissolve all regional parties and give way to one force. There is no meaning if the political parties survive whereas the people are facing difficulties,”
Nongrum said the KHNAM central executive committee will meet soon to decide on the matter.
People’s Democratic Front (PDF) working president Emlang Lytan welcomed the decision and asserted that it should last.
When asked whether a regional pre-poll alliance will cement its position in the changing political scenario, he said, “They cannot treat the alliance like an umbrella, to huddle together for shelter under its shade when it rains and then scatter when it is dry.”
Lytan, however, warned against befooling the electorate. “People had had enough. People are getting wiser and they are watching every political party and they are smart enough to understand,” he said.
