SHILLONG, Nov 11: The United Democratic Party (UDP) is likely to come up with its first list of candidates for the upcoming Assembly elections before the end of this month.
Indicating this here on Friday, UDP general secretary Jemino Mawthoh told reporters that in the aftermath of the disintegration of the Congress and the “non-acceptability” of the newly-floated parties, people would support the UDP.
He disclosed that the UDP’s State Election Committee would meet on November 22. He said the party would screen around 40 applications received from aspiring candidates.
The UDP is keen to contest in a maximum number of seats. It will assess its position in Garo Hills.
The five districts of the region have a combined number of 24 Assembly segments and the party has been unable to make inroads into many of them.
Reiterating that the UDP will not forge any pre-poll alliance, Mawthoh said it is looking at clinching an absolute majority this time around.
He also said that two to three suspended Congress legislators would join the UDP but it will not just accept anybody as there is a process of identification and selection and the party also looks at qualities.
On the BJP’s recent threat to pull out of the government, Mawthoh said it would not make any difference as the elections are just a couple of months away.
Despite being a key constituent of the National People’s Party-led ruling Meghalaya Democratic Alliance, the UDP in recent times tried to distance itself from the alleged irregularities in the government. It is projecting itself as the alternative in the state.
Ex-MDC’s exit not to impact party: Metbah
UDP president Metbah Lyngdoh downplayed the exit of former party MDC Donkupar Sumer ahead of the elections.
Talking to reporters on Thursday, Lyngdoh said some of Sumer’s close supporters might desert the party along with the former Umsning MDC but there will be no impact since the UDP leaders and supporters in the constituency are intact.
The former MDC had quit the party recently blaming the arrogant attitude of the party leadership and the disrespect shown to him. He had stated that he would skip the Assembly polls and, instead, contest the KHADC elections in 2024.
Sumer had also accused the top UDP leaders of “conspiring” against him and awarding the ticket for the Umsning seat to a political greenhorn.
It is understood that former MLA Nehlang Lyngdoh son’s Sunshine Makri is the frontrunner for the UDP ticket from Umsning constituency.
