SHILLONG, Jan 24: The battle for supremacy in the Khasi-Jaintia Hills in next year’s Assembly elections will be between the United Democratic Party (UDP) and the National People’s Party (NPP), believes UDP general secretary, Jemino Mawthoh.
“The fight in Khasi and Jaintia Hills region will be between the UDP and the NPP. I don’t think the Congress or the AITC (All India Trinamool Congress) will be able to do well,” Mawthoh told reporters on Monday.
There is a clear indication that people would be looking either at the UDP or the NPP, he claimed. However, it is for the voters to decide which of the two parties will have an edge in the polls, he said.
The UDP and the NPP are two key constituents of the ruling Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA).
Mawthoh claimed the Congress is in a state of disarray following the defection of 12 of its MLAs to the AITC.
“With just over a year left for the general elections, it is going to be difficult for the Congress to regroup. I don’t think it will be able to pose a threat to either the UDP or the NPP,” he said.
Talking about the AITC, Mawthoh said it will not be able to make an immediate impact since it will take time for the people to accept the new party.
“The AITC may be able to do better in Garo Hills considering the X-factor of former Chief Minister, Dr Mukul Sangma. But as far as the Khasi Hills region is concerned, people view the AITC as a Bengal-based party,” Mawthoh said.
He also said that the UDP has always stressed on the unity of the regional forces in the state, adding, “We need to push forward the issue of unification in a more aggressive way.”
Mawthoh said although the UDP had failed to win a good number of seats in the last Assembly polls, it has ensured there are checks and balances in governance by being an integral part of the government. “We ensured that there is political stability and the MDA remains in power despite having a less number of MLAs. We also ensured that there is overall development in the state,” he said.
He claimed that the UDP is also responsible for political stability in the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council and the Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council.
Mawthoh said the party will keep highlighting matters which require rectification by the government.
“As we pursued the government to take steps for improving the overall functioning of MeECL (Meghalaya Energy Corporation Limited), it had ordered an inquiry,” he added.