SHILLONG, Nov 5: People’s Democratic Front (PDF) general secretary, Auspicious Lyngdoh Mawphlang on Sunday said he cannot accept the offer of the United Democratic Party (UDP) to represent them in the upcoming polls.
Speaking to The Shillong Times, he said he will contest from PDF for the Mawphlang seat, adding that he has already begun campaigning for his party.
According to Mawphlang, people including his supporters will be utterly confused if he decides to contest from another party.
“I am a founder member of the PDF. I am not willing to shift my allegiance to another party. I know that people of the constituency are 100 per cent behind me,” the PDF general secretary said.
He, however, revealed that UDP leaders from Mawphlang Constituency including sitting MLA Eugeneson Lyngdoh had unofficially approached him and attempted to rope him in for polls. But he hinted to them that he will be unable to accept the offer.
It may be mentioned that the sitting Mawphlang MLA had already announced that he is not going to contest the upcoming elections citing personal reasons.
Despite his decision to not contest, the sitting Mawphlang MLA was elected as the president of the newly constituted body of the UDP Mawphlang circle. Eugeneson Lyngdoh had had already briefed party leaders in his constituency about the decision.
He had even stated that the party’s exercise to find a candidate to contest the polls will start. “We will then screen the applications of the aspirants for the party ticket,” the UDP MLA said.
Asked if his decision to not contest could mean a setback for the UDP, Lyngdoh had said the decision was in the best interest of the party. “But I can assure you that I will try my best to work hard for the party candidate to win the Mawphlang seat,” he had added.
When asked to comment about his future plans, the UDP MLA said he is exploring ideas. “I am still exploring what to do next,” Lyngdoh had said.
It may be recalled that Lyngdoh who is also former Indian national footballer had successfully won the by-election to Mawphlang seat on UDP ticket after the demise of his father, late SK Sunn, who held the seat.
