By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The UDP is looking to capitalize on the ongoing internal bickering within Congress over selection of candidates in the upcoming Assembly election.
“Our party is definitely going to be benefitted by the ongoing internal bickering within the Congress. The Congress is presently divided into several camps and this would badly hurt them in the upcoming election,” UDP working president Bindo Mathew Lanong said here on Wednesday.
According to him, the UDP candidates would have an edge in several constituencies as Congress is facing a revolt from those aspirants who were denied the ticket.
He said that the prospect of his party is also very good in those constituencies where UDP faces a one-to-one contest with the Congress nominee.
While referring to the prospect of the party in Jaintia Hills, he said, “This time situation in Jaintia Hills is totally different. We are hoping to give a tough fight in at least four constituencies in the district”.
In the last Assembly election, Congress had won all the seven seats in Jaintia Hills.
The party candidate Riang Lennon Tariang has an edge over Congress nominee and War-Jaintia sitting legislator Lakhmen Rymbui, he said.
When asked if UDP has forged any unofficial ‘understanding’ with the NPP, the UDP working president said he was not aware of such agreement.
While talking on post-poll scenario, he said, “The party would be looking forward to work with all the light minded parties after the election.”
He said that the party would release the final list of candidates within January 20.
So far, the UDP had announced the names of 44 candidates.
To a question about the allotment of the party ticket to former Congress Minister Augustine D Marak, he said that the party has left the decision to its party unit in Garo Hills.
