Tongkhar’s UDP decision backs my claims: Metbah

SHILLONG, May 27: United Democratic Party (UDP) president, Metbah Lyngdoh feels Renikton Lyngdoh, who is a cabinet minister and HSPDP MLA, joining the UDP ranks backs his claims that many of the sitting MLAs are keen on joining the UDP.
Lyngdoh, however, said he is unaware about Tongkhar’s plans of jumping ship to the UDP.
“As of now, I have no information about such development. If this is true, then it only supports my claim (made) from time to time that many of the sitting MLAs are eager to join the party,” Lyngdoh said.
However, Tongkhar’s entry into the UDP has not gone down well with members of the UDP Mawkyrwat Circle as majority of the leaders has expressed unhappiness over party’s central body’s decision to accommodate Tongkhar.
Sources said that dissension has grown so much that majority of the leaders of the UDP Mawkyrwat Circle will resign in the next few days as a mark of protest against the decision.
On the recent claims made by UDP general secretary, Jemino Mawthoh, which was reported in a section of the media, that as many as 17 sitting MLAs are eager to join the party, the UDP chief said that the party’s top leadership is talking in their individual levels to leaders as well as sitting MLAs who want to join the party.
He also admitted that the party has received feelers from many leaders wishing to associate themselves with the UDP.
“But at the moment, nothing has been finalised. But I am sure everyone will know about the leaders who are joining the party when the time is right,” the UDP president said.