By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, March 25: Fiercely rejecting any attempt by political opponents to mislead the people, UDP president Metbah Lyngdoh said the UDP has only pledged its support to the MDA 2.0 Government and not merged with the NPP as is being insinuated.
“We have only supported the coalition government led by the NPP. Does it mean that the BJP, which is leading the government at the Centre, has merged with the NPP if they have supported the MDA 2.0 coalition government?” Lyngdoh said, while speaking at a rally to formally announce the candidature of former MLA, late HDR Lyngdoh’s nephew, Synshar Kupar Roy Lyngdoh Thabah as the party candidate from Sohiong constituency.
He has beseeched the people of Sohiong constituency not to believe the political propaganda of the party’s opponents.
Lyngdoh, who is the MLA from Mairang, asserted that the UDP and other allies of the ruling coalition will continue to maintain their own identity despite being part of the current dispensation.
Talking about the party’s poll performance and the ambitious target of leading the government after 2023 elections, Lyngdoh said the party cannot lead the coalition if only 11 MLAs from UDP are elected to power. “We need at least 36 MLAs to be able to form a stable government. None of the party could form the government on its own due to the fractured mandate,” the UDP president added.
Taking the dais after UDP president, party’s candidate for Sohiong, Synshar Kupar Roy Lyngdoh Thabah claimed that late HDR Lyngdoh had left some signs for him to fill the former MLA’s shoes and serve the people of Sohiong.
According to Synshar, he was given the responsibility to look after Sohiong area and around 18 polling stations.
Late HDR Lyngdoh’s nephew also said that he will publicly announce his candidature for the upcoming election to the KHADC as a token of appreciation for the work done by his uncle.
Former Meghalaya Home Minister HDR Lyngdoh died on February 20, a few days before the Assembly polls, after a heart attack. His death necessitated the adjournment of polls in Sohiong constituency.
HDR Lyngdoh’s son Nathaniel Osbert Rymmai has said that it was a unanimous decision to allow his cousin Synshar to take over the mantle of his father to serve the people of Sohiong constituency.