SHILLONG, April 8: As promises, assurances and chants of political parties fill the air in the brisk campaign for the GHADC elections, UDP president Metbah Lyngdoh on Thursday said that his party has been receiving overwhelming response from the people of the Garo Hills region, much beyond their expectations.
“We have put up 18 candidates and we are focusing on all the 18 and yes, I am sure that we will not open an account but go even further, considering the response we are getting. It is an excellent response and I never expected it to be so good,” said the UDP president.
The UDP, which has fielded its candidates in 18 of the 29 seats, is contesting the GHADC polls after a long gap and is hoping that the love for regionalism will drive their party home in the poll.
Talking about the ongoing campaign, the UDP president said that the party has all its leaders focused and aggressive campaigning is on. “Campaigning process is going as planned and we are reaching out to all corners where we have put up our candidates,” he informed.
He said that things are improving for the UDP and if this continues, they will have a positive result.
When asked what sort of resistance the UDP is facing from its opponents, Lyngdoh said, “In some constituencies, we have the Congress and in some the NPP and independents too, but we are doing well and the response of the people says it all.
On the ongoing protest against non-tribal candidates participating in the GHADC poll, Lyngdoh said, “I have nothing to say. Let the people of Garo Hills decide. We have fielded our candidates so let them decide”.
To a query on the meeting of the UDP to hammer out the issue among party leaders on the demand to oust Power Minister James Sangma, the UDP president said that right now they are focused on the GHADC poll and they will discuss about it after the poll.
