Jemino warns alternative govt must have common objective

SHILLONG, March 4: Amid vigorous attempts by non-NPP-and-BJP parties to form a government in Meghalaya, UDP leader Jemino Mawthoh has warned that an alternative government must have a common objective or it will end up in “another khichdi”.
“Coming together with the objective of throwing out NPP may materialise but what is important is whether there is common objective of serving the people of the state. If not, then it will be another ‘khichdi’ and the combination and stitching together may be superficial and fragile. But if people have given the mandate, so be it,” he said.
“Frankly speaking, the people have given their mandate we have fractured mandate so stitching together all the political parties both national and regional is very difficult and challenging,” said Mawthoh.
Mawthoh said that the effort of stitching up a coalition is happening “because everyone is fed up of NPP rule”.
“…that is the only common agenda, otherwise how do you think regional and national parties will join hands together? That too is a very fragile combination.”
“The only common objective of coming together is to throw NPP out. How can UDP, TMC, VPP, INC etc work together?” he questioned.
Mawthoh also informed that he is unaware of the NPP approaching the UDP or any of its leaders.
Talking about the two HSPDP MLAs who had pledged their support to the NPP, he questioned whether the party is over and above the individual MLAs. They cannot go by their whims and fancies since they contested and won from the party, he added.
“The people have given the mandate. The UDP was supposed to get more than 20 seats but why is it getting only 11? Now post elections people should also realise if they have not given a chance to us what can we do,” he said, further adding that as of now it is for the UDP to stay united and stay in the opposition.
Talking about the BJP, he said, “If Amit Shah has said that the government led by NPP is most corrupt. Why the tie-up now with BJP?”