Metbah looks set to get 2nd term as UDP chief

SHILLONG, Aug 6: Former Assembly Speaker and UDP president, Metbah Lyngdoh is likely to be re-elected to lead the party for another term.
Party sources on Sunday revealed that most of the UDP leaders want Lyngdoh to continue taking into account the efforts he has made to strengthen the party since taking over following the demise of former party president (L) Donkupar Roy.
The four-time legislator from Mairang was elected UDP president on September 11, 2019.
According to party sources, one of the most significant achievements of Lyngdoh was the establishment of the party office which was pending since the days of the All Party Hill Leaders Conference (APHLC).
Party sources also credited Lyngdoh for doubling the tally of the MLAs from six in the last elections in 2018 to 12.
Lyngdoh was also instrumental in the UDP’s success in the bypolls, whether in Ranikor, Mawphlang or Sohiong, they said.
The party sources said the new office-bearers of the UDP central executive committee will be elected during the general conference meeting on August 12.
They said that the general council could not be held on July 29 as the party MLAs were pre-occupied with various assignments.
The tenure of the current executive committee expired in 2022 but the general council meeting was deferred because of the pandemic and the Assembly elections. The UDP will put in place a nomination committee comprising the district presidents and secretaries and presidents and secretaries of the frontal wings – the youth wing, women’s wing and the farmers’ wing.
The nomination committee will also include active members of the party – Renikton Lyngdoh Tongkhar, PT Sawkmie, Mayralborn Syiem, Nujorki Sungoh and two members from Garo Hills.
The UDP president and the general secretary will be ex-officio members of the nomination committee.