SHILLONG, Nov 6: United Democratic Party (UDP) general secretary Jemino Mawthoh said the loss of faith in a coalition government could see a party committed to the cause of the people being voted to power in 2023.
He hoped the mandate of the Assembly polls next year is not fractured.
“The people have lost their trust in the government and we need to instil that trust. I feel there’s a wave in favour of the UDP and the mandate this time will not be fractured,” Mawthoh said on Sunday.
“We should be given a chance to provide the much-needed leadership,” he added.
Mawthoh insisted the UDP has never been quiet on pressing issues despite being a part of the NPP-led MDA government. He reminded his party’s demand for the Power Minister and the CMD of the MeECL to step down in view of the power sector irregularities.
The Home Minister was also asked to resign after tear gas was used against the teachers while the Social Welfare Minister, a UDP legislator, was open to any inquiry into the alleged rice scam, he pointed out.
“If we keep quiet, it means we are in collusion. We are not shielding anybody because we do what is in the best interest of the people,” he said.
Stating that the UDP has and will always speak against illegalities and corruption, Mawthoh said they will raise the issues of the people as they need to know the truth.
Asked if seeking the resignation of the Home Minister created any ripples, he said the UDP took a call keeping the people’s interests in mind. “A person holding an office should always be answerable to the people,” he said.
He, however, said the Home Minister was unaware of the incident and the district administration was tackling the situation although excessive force by the police was not required.
Mawthoh claimed the UDP will be a major player in the upcoming polls. “I cannot predict the number of seats we will win, but the indications are that we will do better than than the last election,” he said.
UDP plays down rift within
The UDP has not finalised any candidate for the upcoming Assembly polls, the party’s general secretary Jemino Mawthoh said Sunday while playing down reports of a rift within.
He clarified the party’s position amid the claim of Nongkrem’s independent MLA Lambor Malngiang that he will be given the UDP ticket and senior UDP leader Bindo M Lanong’s decision to contest the seat as an independent.
“We have surveyed some of the constituencies to feel the pulse of the people. We will take a call based on the ground report,” Mawthoh said.
He said the party follows a procedure that entails incorporating the opinions of grassroots workers. The State Election Committee (SEC) finalises the names of candidates suggested by the people of the constituencies via the district units, he added.
He also said the SEC will choose from the applications in the best interest of the party.
Mawthoh said the UDP is seeking sincere and committee party candidates apart from their winnability.
He denied any rift between party president Metbah Lyngdoh and Lanong. “Bah Metbah is the chairman of our core committee and Bah Lanong is its key member and they discuss issues together,” he said.
“There may be differences in opinion, but we take decisions collectively,” he added.
The UDP is reportedly facing a crisis over the selection of its candidate for the Nongkrem seat in the 2023 elections. The decision of the party’s Nongkrem circle to project Malngiang as its candidate has not gone down well with the senior leaders.
