SHILLONG: The MDA’s common candidate for Shillong Lok Sabha seat and UDP general secretary, Jemino Mawthoh, on Sunday attributed the alliance with the BJP post the Assembly elections last year to the need for numbers to form the government.
Speaking at an election campaign on Saturday at Mawlai, he said, “We would not have been able to form the government with only one party. We needed the numbers,” he explained adding that there was no pre-poll alliance with the BJP.
Mawthoh’s clarification comes on the back of Opposition Congress launching a tirade against the UDP for its bonhomie with the saffron party.
Commenting on the prospects of the Congress, he said, “We don’t know which party will form the government at the Centre, but it is certain it will not be the Congress.”
He exuded confidence in other regional parties extending their support to him as the common candidate of the MDA but contesting on UDP symbol.
PDF support
Meanwhile, People’s Democratic Party (PDF) MLA Banteidor Lyngdoh convened a meeting at the Community Hall of Thangsning village, under Mawkynrew constituency, to garner support for Mawthoh and urged his supporters to be wise and not to be misled.
It may be mentioned that the MDA allies barring BJP are campaigning for Mawthoh.
The BJP has fielded candidates for both Shillong and Tura Lok Sabha seats. The party’s MLA from South Shillong, Sanbor Shullai, is its pick for the Shillong seat while Rikman G Momin will contest against NPP’s Agatha Sangma and Congress’ Mukul Sangma in Tura.
Rally for Jemino
The Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) will organise a rally in the city on Tuesday in support of common candidate Jemino Mawthoh.
Chief Minister Conrad Sangma, NPP leaders and members of the coalition will take part in the rally at the 2nd Ground Polo.
This was informed by the office secretary-cum-coordinator of the MDA Shillong Parliamentary Election Committee, Allantry Dkhar.
In a statement issued here, Dkhar said, “The bonhomie and synergy we experience is a first of its kind.”
According to the UDP leader, there is an overwhelming response from the partners in the MDA.
He said the rally will showcase the unity of MDA before the electorate by spreading the idea of unity for peace, progress and prosperity.
