SHILLONG: The Hill State People’s Democratic Party (HSPDP) wants to strengthen the regional alliance with UDP by bringing the People’s Democratic Front (PDF) into its fold.
Talking to media persons here on Thursday, HSPDP president KP Pangniang said HSPDP would try to have a mutual understanding with UDP on the issue and work as a unified force.
Asserting that both HSPDP and UDP would continue to support the MDA government, Pangniang, however, admitted that the performance of regional parties was not so impressive in the last election in February.
The regional leader emphasised the need for “mutual understanding among the three major regional parties” and said partners HSPDP and UDP “will have internal arrangements for the council election”.
“We are trying to seek ways and means to strengthen each other,” he said, adding that the party is yet to take any call on the Lok Sabha election scheduled to take place next year. Last year, the HSPDP, UDP and GNC formed the Regional Democratic Alliance (RDA) to contest the Assembly elections.
Even as Pangniang pitched for a strong regional force with PDF, Nongstoin MDC L G Nongsiej rejoined HSPDP on Thursday ending his year-long association with PDF.
The HSPDP leaders present were Pangniang, MLAs Renikton L Tongkhar and Samlin Malngiang, who is also an MDC and district council members Manstudy Nongrem and Teilinia Thangkhiew at Tongkhar’s residence.
With Nongsiej joining HSPDP, the party now has four MDCs – Malngiang, Thangkhiew, Nongrem and Nongsiej. The strength of the PDF in the KHADC has gone down to 10.
Nongsiej left HSPDP in 2015 before joining PDF in 2016.
Speaking to reporters, Pangniang said the party decided to call him back after a thorough discussion.
“We are happy that he has come back to the party. We want to see unity in the party, especially before we march on to celebrate 50 years of the party’s existence and before the 2019 Council elections,” he said.
Meanwhile, Nongsiej said, “I won the election twice from the party and I want to remain in the party. HSPDP has become like flesh and blood for me. I am contented to be back in the party.”
