SHILLONG: UDP president Donkupar Roy said the differences between the UDP members from Garo Hills and the UDP central leadership over the August 23 South Tura by-poll will be sorted out.
The UDP in Garo Hills is keen to contest the by-poll, while the party’s central leadership wanted to support Chief Minister Conrad Sangma, who will contest the South Tura by-poll.
Roy said the UDP leaders in Garo Hills felt that they were neglected by NPP though the party had supported NPP, including the late PA Sangma on several occasions.
“What they feel is that they should not be neglected,” Roy said.
Admitting that it was the UDP that had proposed the name of Conrad to lead the MDA coalition, Roy added that the party would extend support to Conrad and further discussions will be held with the UDP members from Garo Hills.
A delegation of the UDP leaders from Shillong had visited West Garo Hills recently.
Senior UDP leader Bindo Lanong said the team met all the important leaders and they exchanged views about their proposal to set up a candidate from South Tura.
“We have impressed upon them that we are part of the MDA government and they realised the position but they have some reservations as they want the Garo Hills chapter of the UDP to be recognised,” Lanong said, while adding that the Garo Hills leaders want to be duly consulted.
The UDP central leaders told them that they will have parleys with the NPP and convey the decision.
Lanong said the UDP leadership will have a meeting with the Garo Hills leaders again after the parleys with the NPP in Shillong.
The NPP recently had written to all the coalition parties in the MDA to support the chief minister.
