SHILLONG, Jan 10: An all-out war is raging between the coalition partners despite dates of the electoral battle yet to be announced. While on one end the United Democratic Party (UDP) claims to outperform the National People’s Party (NPP), if voted to power, the latter counters the former’s claims as nothing more than a wishful thinking and a dream that awaits a reality check.
“It is nice to dream even if the reality is harsh. But reality check is what they will experience in no time. Have patience,” NPP state president Dr WR Kharlukhi said with a satirical tone on Tuesday.
According to him, it is but a wishful thinking of the UDP.
He acknowledged that every political party will make claims as elections draw nearer but the truth will be known only after the poll results.
Maintaining that the NPP is eyeing absolute majority, the party’s state president said they are on track and things are looking good.
His reactions come against the backdrop of claims by UDP president Metbah Lyngdoh that the party will perform better than the NPP in terms governance, if given the mandate to lead the government.
It is pertinent to note that the UDP chief had asserted that the question of a post-poll alliance with NPP does not arise now as every party is eyeing a single majority.
Like NPP, the UDP is eyeing an absolute majority in hopes of forming the government on its own.
The NPP and UDP are otherwise a closely-knit coalition partners, but like previous years, both the parties are going solo to battle without any pre-poll understanding.
Meanwhile, newly appointed NPP Spokesperson Ampareen Lyngdoh has said that UDP leading the government may be an “unlikely occurrence”.
Lyngdoh said, “Leading a government is dependent on the mandate of the people. Gauging from the likely fielding of candidates – a party has to clearly have a pan-state presence”.
“UDP in the past has won seats in one part of the state. A claim must commensurate a ground position, so my practical comment on the UDP leading government could be an unlikely occurrence,” she added.
