RDA invites PDF to attend unity meet

SHILLONG: In an attempt to bring unity among regional parties, the Regional Democratic Alliance (RDA) has invited People’s Democratic Front (PDF) for a meeting at UDP president Donkupar Roy’s residence on Monday.
Sources said the meeting will discuss the issue of common candidate and the need to bring all the regional parties under one platform.
The RDA is an alliance of UDP and HSPDP. The PDF formed last year has four MLAs and is not part of the RDA although it is an ally in the MDA coalition.
Speaking to The Shillong Times, secretary of RDA Renikton Lyngdoh Tongkhar said, “The main agenda of the meeting is strengthening of the regional parties.”
He added the regional parties will contest the Council elections separately while the post-poll alliance will be discussed later.
The UDP president had stressed on unity of regional parties for revamping regional politics in Meghalaya when SK Sunn MLA joined UDP as an associate member. Renikton at the golden jubilee celebration on Saturday also spoke about unity and maintained that the alliance is still strong.
The HSPDP has also announced it will propose a common candidate to the MDA at its golden jubilee celebration.
Asked as to whether the issue of common candidate will be discussed, he said, “Other parties can propose their own candidates, it is all up to the MDA to take a final call.”