SHILLONG, March 17: United Democratic Party president, Metbah Lyngdoh on Sunday said the Regional Democratic Alliance (RDA) candidate, Robertjune Kharjahrin “is already an MP” if one takes into account the vote share of the UDP and HSPDP across the Assembly segments of the Shillong Lok Sabha constituency in 2023.
The Shillong seat encompasses 36 Assembly constituencies in the Khasi-Jaintia Hills region.
Lyngdoh, also the RDA chairman, said the UDP and HSPDP got 2,99,646 and 66,049 votes in the segments under the Shillong seat. The two parties bagged 12 and two seats respectively.
He pointed out that the National People’s Party, the single-largest party in terms of vote share in these 36 constituencies garnered 3,17,022 votes, which was 48,773 fewer than the RDA’s.
“We already have an edge if the UDP and HSPDP manage to retain the vote share of the 2023 Assembly polls,” he said.
Lyngdoh, however, said the vote share of RDA will change since the turnout of electors for the Lok Sabha polls has always been on the lower side.
He said the upcoming Lok Sabha polls are crucial as there is a need for a new face to represent the Shillong parliamentary seat.
“We have elected Vincent H. Pala of Congress for three consecutive terms. Now, we need to elect someone who can raise the issues afflicting the state more aggressively in Parliament,” the UDP president said.
He cautioned the voters not to fall for the drama and social media campaigns of certain parties.
Meanwhile, the UDP’s Mawthadraishan MDC, Jambor War accused the Voice of the People Party of trying to divide the Khasi indigenous tribes.
He said the VPP president, Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit was instrumental in the formation of the RDA during his term as the president of the HSPDP in October 2017.
“He (Basaiawmoit) is now trying to weaken the regional forces after playing a part in forming the RDA to bring the regional parties together,” he said.
Refusing to divulge the name of the Trinamool Congress leader who attended an election rally of the VPP, he said the TMC leader told the people to vote for Congress if they did not fancy the VPP.
“This only reflects the hidden agenda of the VPP,” War said.
