Shillong, Feb 6: The United Democratic Party (UDP) is certain of having a Chief Minister from their fold in the net government in Meghalaya.
” I am very certain that if we get more seats and the chief minister will be from the United Democratic Party,” said UDP General Secretary Jemino Mawthoh who filed his nomination on Monday to contest from Nongthymmai LAC.
On plan to have post-poll alliance with the NPP, he did not give a clear answer but said it was difficult to comment as that was something which they will have to wait and watch.
He informed that the party has not committed to anyone on what permutation and combination will follow post poll.
Mawthoh claimed that the party was expected to benefit and win many more seats since people were not going to accept both the NPP and TMC this time.
According to him, the party was, in fact, eyeing to get absolute majority.
“We would like to emerge as the single largest party even if we are not able to get absolute majority, to be able to lead the net government,” Mawthoh who is also the party general secretary said.
He said that they had experience if other parties led the government, they always used to overlook interests of the coalition partners.
Meanwhile, he said that it would be wrong to say that the party has sideline and ill treated veteran political leader, Bindo Mathew Lanong.
Mawthoh claimed that the party still has huge respect for Lanong who is one of the founding members of the UDP.
He also clarified that the party was never against Lanong contesting the election adding that the party had suggested that he should contest from East Shillong constituency where he used to contest earlier.
According to him, the allotment of the party ticket to former MLA, Lambor Malngiang to contest from Nongkrem constituency was a unanimous decision of the party’s State Election Committee.