‘Winnability factor to decide UDP tickets for candidates’

SHILLONG, Aug 1: Allotment of party tickets in the United Democratic Party (UDP) camp will primarily be based on winnability factor of the candidate, said president of the party’s East Khasi Hills unit Titosstarwell Chyne.
Chyne was reacting to a question on the tussle with regard to party ticket in Nongkrem constituency between party chief adviser Bindo Mathew Lanong and Independent MLA from Nongkrem, Lambor Malngiang.
“Yes, he (Lanong) has verbally told me about his plan to contest from Nongkrem constituency. But the party ticket is not a personal property of anyone. You are not guaranteed to get the ticket only because you are a party leader. The leadership will allot the ticket by giving due weightage to the winnability factor,” Chyne said.
The statement of UDP East Khasi Hills unit president may be an indication that Lanong might be overlooked as far as the allotment of the party ticket is concerned, especially in the wake of Malngiang being the frontrunner.
Meanwhile, Chyne said that the exodus of party leaders in Mawlai constituency including a former MLA and party youth president Embhah Syiemlieh has been a result of the internal rumblings between the leaders.
According to him, Syiemlieh was unhappy about supposedly being sidelined by the leaders who had just joined the party.
Chyne said supporters of Mawlai MLA PT Sawkmie, who has decided to join the UDP, have reportedly sidelined the youth leader, which, according to him, is not right. “I have suggested party general secretary Jemino Mawthoh to convene a meeting with the former MLA and other leaders who have decided to resign from the party,” Chyne said.