SHILLONG, Feb 6: The UDP, the second largest constituent of the MDA coalition, wants a bigger pie this time.
The party, which holds the potential to rock the NPP’s boat, is looking at calling the shots after the February 27 elections results are out.
“If we get more seats this time, the chief minister will be from our party,” UDP general secretary Jemino Mawthoh said after filing his nominations for the Nongthymmai constituency.
Significantly, Mawthoh’s comment came barely days after UDP candidate from Mawlai constituency PT Sawkmie’s alleged negligent treatment from NPP to its ministers with one of them being Lahkmen Rymbui.
Mawthoh claimed a groundswell of support, which has made the UDP upbeat about its prospects of heading the next government.
Pointing out that the UDP’s count of legislators doubled from six in 2018, he said the people are inclined toward the party candidates, who have come from different groups.
He rubbished reports that the UDP and the TMC have planned to tie up after the polls. “We have not deliberated on the permutations and combinations yet. Let the results come out,” he said.
He claimed many political parties have approached the UDP for a post-poll understanding but the TMC was not among them. “I do not know if they met any other leaders, although it is unlikely that I, as the party’s general secretary, would be kept in the dark,” he said.
On the possibility of a tie-up with the NPP after the polls, Mawthoh said it would be difficult for him to predict although the “chance of non-acceptability of NPP is very much there”.
He advised the national parties to assess their performances in Meghalaya before attacking the regional parties.
“The national parties are disintegrating, which is a good sign for us,” he said, adding the people are looking at the UDP as an alternative.
He said the voters are neither accepting the NPP nor the TMC.
UDP president Metbah Lyngdoh echoed Mawthoh and said his party is targeting to get absolute majority to be able to lead the new government in the state.
“We are getting good reports from all 45 constituencies where we have fielded our candidates. But we will have a clear picture once we get close to the day of polling,” Lyngdoh said.
“The UDP is part and parcel of the incumbent coalition government led by the NPP and the decision making lies with the NPP. We can only make a difference if we are able to lead the government,” the UDP chief said, urging people to give his party an opportunity to lead the government.
“I want to tell the people that the UDP is the only regional party in the state which has a future,” he added.
