‘UDP-HSPDP alliance to keep Congress, BJP out of power’

SHILLONG: With UDP not averse to an alliance with BJP in the post-poll scenario, HSPDP supremo Ardent Basaiawmoit on Monday asserted that there was no question of either BJP or Congress coming to power.
“The stand of the alliance is to get a non-Congress and non-BJP government in 2018 and we are working towards that goal,” Basaiawmoit told reporters, adding that confidence is the need of the hour.
The HSPDP leader said the recent comments by UDP leader Bindo Lanong that “the party is not inimical to BJP” was his personal observation.
According to Basaiawmoit, it is also wrong to say that for fund flow, the state parties should support the party which is leading the government at the Centre.
He said that as per the Constitution, the Centre cannot deny funds to states as the country has a federal structure. Basaiawmoit said as far as state elections are concerned, the mood of the people in the state is against the present Congress-led government and BJP will take a long time to make inroads.
“We have to have confidence and with confidence, we would be able to make a difference,” he asserted.
To a question on the post-poll scenario, Basaiawmoit said any decision can be taken only after the votes are counted and not before as it will be too early to comment on the matter.
He also appealed to the people to realise that the UDP-HSPDP alliance will give a viable alternative in 2018.
Basaiawmoit said the differences over seat-sharing are only at the individual level and that both the parties are committed to the alliance.
Review in three seats
The HSPDP leader said that in the best interest of the alliance, both the parties feel that the open seat at Sohiong will be considered as a reserved seat so that only one party will contest.
The open seats in Umroi and Mawryngkneng will also be converted as reserved seats and talks were on in this regard, he added.