SHILLONG: The UDP’s decision to go for a pre-poll alliance with the HSPDP does not seem to have gone down well with all its members.
Members of UDP’s Nongkrem circle have unanimously decided to resign from the party as a mark of protest against the pre-poll alliance between the regional parties.
UDP Working President Bindo M Lanong, however, asserted that party is not a divided house and it has formed an informal fact-finding team to ascertain the situation in Nongkrem circle and find out the exact reason for the discontentment.
Meanwhile, the two parties, which entered into an alliance earlier this week, are yet to take a call on who will contest from the two important seats of Mylliem and North Shillong.
Both parties seem interested in fielding candidates in the two constituencies.
Lanong downplayed the whole issue saying that there are as many as 5-6 seats where both parties are yet to take a call on candidature.
“We are for both the seats since these are the seats where UDP has won several times in the past. Both parties should come to bargain on these seats,” he said.
Lanong also pointed out that both the parties will have to look into many aspects like realistic figures, the current situation and past results before arriving at a decision on seat sharing.
“Both parties should deal carefully and see whether the weightage is more on Party A or B,” he added.
For Mylliem constituency, UDP is contemplating to field Hamlet Dohling while HSPDP intends to put up Teilina Thangkhiew as its candidate.
Meanwhile, Joe Marwein is a strong probable for the UDP ticket from North Shillong. HSPDP too has plans to field a candidate from the constituency.
Dohling said the UDP-HSPDP coordination committee is yet to take a decision on the constituency.
He, however, said he has worked hard for 5-6 months and he has a good chance to win the elections if given a ticket.
The UDP-HSPDP alliance has drawn both criticisms and appreciation from various political parties.
