SHILLONG, Jan 18: Asserting the supremacy of the regional forces, UDP president Metbah Lyngdoh on Wednesday exuded confidence that 2023 would prove to be the year of resurgence of his party and the time was ripe for the UDP to lead Meghalaya.
“We see that the time has come for the UDP to lead the state,” Lyngdoh said.
He said the UDP suffered a major setback in the 2018 Assembly elections after managing to win only six seats but improved upon its position by winning the by-elections to Shella, Ranikor and Mawphlang seats.
“The resurgence of the UDP was witnessed after the victory in the Mawphlang by-elections in 2021. As leaders, we could feel that the people are slowly looking at the UDP as the alternative force to lead the state,” Lyngdoh said.
Metbah lamented that despite several attempts made in the past by the leaders, the regional forces in the state could not be united.
He recalled that the first such attempt was made through the formation of the Hills People’s Union (HPU). There was another attempt made in 1997 through the formation of the United Democratic Party (UDP), he said.
“But these attempts to unite the regional forces was a total failure,” Lyngdoh said addressing a gathering at a function where five former MLAs including Cabinet minister Renikton L Tongkhar were formally inducted into the party. Former Mawlai MLA PT Sawkmie confirmed that he had joined the UDP even though he was not present at the induction ceremony.
Metbah said the decision of the five former MLAs to embrace the UDP only proved that the party is heading for a better future.
Earlier in the day, Mayralborn Syiem (Nongpoh), Lambor Malngiang (Nongkrem), Renikton L Tongkhar (Mawkyrwat), Shitlang Pale (Sutnga-Saipung) and PT Sawkmie resigned from the Meghalaya legislative Assembly and submitted their papers to Speaker Metbah Lyngdoh.
Speaking during the induction ceremony, Tongkhar expressed optimism that the UDP will emerge as a major regional force in the upcoming Assembly polls.
“All the five have joined the UDP with the objective to strengthen the regional party. It is going to be difficult if it does not happen in 2023,” Tongkhar said.
Echoing similar views, Malngiang said the major political parties are not taking the regional parties seriously as they do not have the numbers.
“We realised that if we remain divided, then it is going to be very difficult for us to lead the state. Therefore, I took the decision to join the UDP,” Malngiang said.
Pale said the supporters are not accepting the TMC as it is a new party.
“The people are turning their eyes to the UDP to provide a pro-people government which will address the issues of corruption and unemployment among the youth. I also see that the UDP is the only alternative,” Pale said.
Former Nongpoh MLA, Mayralborn Syiem said it is time for the people of the state to repose their faith in the UDP.
“The UDP had won 22 seats in the 1998 Assembly polls. We are going to improve upon that number in the upcoming polls,” Syiem said confidently.
