SHILLONG, Sep 11: United Democratic Party (UDP) working president Paul Lyngdoh said politics is determined by numbers and the party does not have a final word on every matter as of now since it lacks the number. If the course of politics is to be changed, the party should be put in the driver’s seat, he pointed out.
Lyngdoh was reacting to a query on the observation that the UDP has been found wanting in aggressively taking up the issues concerning the wellbeing of the indigenous people like the Inner Line Permit (ILP) and the interstate border dispute, among others.
“Today even without the UDP, the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) will still have the numbers; therefore if we are to change the course of history and change the course of politics in the state, the UDP should be given charge. “You will see the difference,” he asserted.
On the interstate border MoU signed between Assam and Meghalaya as part of the first phase of dispute solving process and the resentment to it from several quarters, Lyngdoh said, “In any such situation there will always be merits and demerits. There will always be a perception that things are not right but ultimately the state has to gain. Meghalaya has to ensure that it does not lose a single inch of its land and that will be the priority of the UDP Government which we will be leading after five months.”
On post-poll alliance with other parties, he said, “The party president (Metbah Lyngdoh) has said that we will achieve the magic number and in such a situation we will not need any partner.”
He said that indications are very obvious that there is a pro UDP wave and the national parties are either divided or have been decimated and no other regional party exists today which has the leadership and the team work that the UDP has.
“This is not my opinion but it is accepted by the public that the only viable party which is well placed to lead Meghalaya is the UDP,” he added.
