By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Oct 18: The United Democratic Party (UDP) is undecided on contesting the Gambegre by-poll.
The party has left it to its Garo Hills leaders to decide whether or not to contest the seat.
“We have leaders in the Garo Hills and a sizeable support base in the region. Although we did not win any seat there, our vote share has been significant and we will continue to be proactive in the Garo Hills,” UDP general secretary Jemino Mawthoh said on Friday.
He said the party is awaiting feedback from its Garo Hills leaders about contesting the Gambegre seat.
The National People’s Party has fielded Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma’s wife Mehtab Chandee while the Trinamool Congress has named former minister Zenith M. Sangma’s wife Sadhiarani Sangma, a member of the GHADC.
The Congress has announced the name of Tura MP Saleng Sangma’s close aide Jingjang M. Marak as its candidate while the BJP will hold a meeting in Delhi on October 21 to finalise its candidate.
The UDP is expected to declare the names of its candidates for the ADC elections by the first week of November.
The party held its Central Executive Committee (CEC) meeting on Friday to draw up its poll strategy.
“In the CEC, we received reports from different districts from the State Election Committee constituted a few weeks ago and directed all the districts and circles to identify the candidates. Many constituencies have selected candidates. We are getting the reports today,” Mawthoh said.
“We discussed the way forward and activated all the units in preparation for the district council elections. We will contest all the seats in the KHADC and the JHADC,” he said.
Asked if the UDP would work with the HSPDP in the ADC polls, he said: “We have always been with the HSPDP under the RDA and that relationship is still there. The objective of the UDP is to unite the like-minded regional forces in the state.”
He asserted that the UDP would continue the relationship with the HSPDP and hold a joint meeting soon.
He also said the two parties may go for seat-sharing based on their strengths and weaknesses in the constituencies.
Meanwhile, the leader of the opposition in the KHADC and UDP working president, Titosstarwell Chyne said. “We have decided to have the General Council on December 6 to clear the candidates and release the party manifesto.”