SHILLONG, Aug 18: United Democratic Party (UDP) leader Paul Lyngdoh on Thursday asserted that party system is yet to establish its foothold in Meghalaya politics. There are areas where some political parties have the edge but in the case of West Shillong constituency, people will vote for the candidate and not the party, he said.
Lyngdoh is seeking to make a comeback from the constituency and will likely be pitted against sitting legislator Mohendro Rapsang and State BJP president Ernest Mawrie, among others.
Reacting to claims by the BJP that the saffron party was gaining ground in the constituency, he said, “I have no such apprehension. I trust that people have matured in the last five years.”
Asked about his prospect in the 2023 assembly election, Lyngdoh said he was unperturbed by the changing political dynamics since he trusts the people of the constituency.
“I am not really bothered over who are in the fray because I have always believed that I should always outperform myself. I neither know nor would be interested to know the names of other candidates,” he said, adding that his priority would be to ensure that people get good representation and good governance.
On his assessment of the current situation in West Shillong, Lyngdoh said, “People always look for the best possible candidate but there are moments of lapse of judgment or reasons. When that happens people tend to rectify themselves and I can sense the process of self-rectification in West Shillong.”
