SHILLONG, March 1: The UDP leadership seems to be divided over the issue of supporting any government led by the BJP after the Assembly election results on Thursday.
UDP general secretary Jemino Mawthoh said the party is yet to discuss the matter of joining an alliance led by the saffron party.
“We will wait for the outcome of the results of the polls before deciding on our next move. The party leadership will decide the best possible options after assessing the outcome of the polls,” Mawthoh said.
Stating that it is clear that it is going to be a fractured mandate, he said it is too early to speak on who the party will align with. “Let us see and wait for the results then we will talk about alliances. We will also need to have common grounds, agenda and issues if we are to align with any party. Our decision will also depend on the mandate given by the people,” the UDP leader said.
When asked about the meeting between Conrad and Himanta to discuss the possibility of an MDA 2.0, Mawthoh said, “No one knows whether it was just a courtesy meeting or if they really discussed government formation.”
“I don’t really know since both Conrad and Himanta have gone hammer and tongs against each other during the election campaign,” Mawthoh said.
Mawthoh’s statement was in stark contrast to UDP vice-president Allantry F Dkhar’s remark that the UDP will not align with a government that is led by the saffron party.
“We will accept the support of all like-minded parties if we are in a position to form the government,” he said, while adding that the numbers will dictate the nature of the alliance.
“We can only anticipate and predict. We can decide only after the results of all the 59 seats are out,” he said, adding that the UDP is yet to discuss the post-poll alliance with other parties.
Dkhar said his party is not aware of any meeting between NPP supremo and Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma and his Assam counterpart Himanta Biswa Sarma for forming the MDA 2.0.
On the prospect of the UDP, he said the party expects to win 15 to 20 seats on the basis of ground reports received from all the party candidates excluding those from the Garo Hills who did not attend held on Tuesday.
“We have a good chance in two constituencies in Garo Hills. We will be more than happy to win at least one seat from the region,” Dkhar said.
He also said the party is yet to decide who the chief minister candidate will be.
Asked if the UDP has softened its stand on the NPP after going all out against the party during the campaign, he said, “We are unhappy with the way the NPP side-lined us in the MDA.”
But the alliance, he said, would depend on the newly elected members. “There are possibilities that the NPP will have many new faces after the results are announced,” he added.
On UDP’s Mawlai candidate, PT Sawkmie underlining the need for a Khasi CM, Dkhar said the party has not taken any stand in this matter.
“This is a sentiment shared by a section of the candidates and some leaders within the party. We do hope for a CM from the Khasi and Jaintia Hills region,” he said.
The UDP’s East Khasi Hills district president, Titosstarwell Chyne also said the party hopes to win up to 20 seats.
“A majority of the party candidates are confident of their victory. The number of seats we manage to win will decide if the UDP will be the kingmaker or it will able to lead the government on its own,” Chyne, the UDP’s Sohra candidate said.
