From Our Correspondent
NONGPOH, March 20: In a stunning turn of events just weeks before the highly anticipated Lok Sabha elections, the United Democratic Party (UDP) Ri-Bhoi District was rocked by a significant blow on Wednesday evening. Several key leaders of the party in the district announced their resignation, citing a unanimous decision reached after extensive deliberation among the leadership. They are now poised to join the NPP.
The development comes just days after the UDP leaders held a closed-door meeting with NPP’s Lok Sabha candidate for the Shillong seat, Ampareen Lyngdoh at a resort in Marmain area of the district which was reported by The Shillong Times. Though the UDP’s central leadership had feigned ignorance on any such meeting, the development on Wednesday vindicates the report published by The Shillong Times.
This unprecedented move by the party’s Ri-Bhoi leadership is poised to have a detrimental impact on the prospects of the Regional Democratic Alliance (RDA) candidate, Robertjune Kharjahrin, who is vying for a seat in the Lok Sabha representing the Shillong Parliamentary seat.
Among those who tendered their resignation are prominent figures such as former Mawhati MLA and working president of the party in the state and district, Donbok Khymdeit, Chief Adviser of UDP Ri-Bhoi, Raphael Massar, former KHADC CEM Rangkynsai Makdoh, and other influential leaders including Queen Mary Rymbai, Biolkingstar Timung, Jeffrey Khymdeit, Prosper Dorphang, Rajesh Lapang, and 23 others.
Addressing the media, UDP stalwart Donbok Khymdeit emphasised that their decision was made transparently and with the sole purpose of advancing the overall development of the district’s populace. He clarified that their resignation was not fueled by personal grievances against the party, either at the state or district level. Instead, it was a conscientious choice made in the interest of serving the community.
Khymdeit further asserted that while they respect the decisions of those remaining in the UDP, they harbour no ill will and extend their best wishes for their future endeavours.
Though the former UDP leaders are all set to align themselves with the NPP shortly, when pressed for confirmation, the leaders remained non-committal, indicating that their next move would be collectively determined in the days to come.
This mass exodus of seasoned UDP leaders has sent shockwaves through the political landscape, signaling a significant realignment of power dynamics in Ri-Bhoi and potentially reshaping the electoral landscape ahead of the impending polls.