SHILLONG: The UDP has decided to throw its weight behind its candidate, Pius Marwein as a common candidate for the upcoming Ranikor by-poll.
Talking to media persons after the meeting of the UDP here on Wednesday, party leader, Jemino Mawthoh said Marwein has better chances of winning the elections as he lost the last elections by a small margin.
Mawthoh said it would be difficult for former KHADC CEM and PDF chief, PN Syiem to contest the elections because of the time factor since Ranikor is a big constituency and therefore would be difficult for him to cover all the villages there.
Asking the PDF chief to support the UDP candidate in the elections, he said the party might have some consideration with regard to the district council elections next year and could then come to an understanding of working together.
Claiming that the UDP candidate was getting the support of leaders from different political parties like BJP, NPP and Congress, Mawthoh said the party felt that it would be better if Marwein could contest the election as a common candidate.
He also said a large number of disgruntled Congress supporters were inclined towards UDP though the party had not received any official intimation from Congress on its support to the UDP candidate in the elections.
Mawthoh also downplayed fears of political rumblings within the MDA government following its decision to put up a candidate against NPP in the Ranikor elections though UDP is a part of the NPP alliance.
