SHILLONG, May 20: The unification of the regional parties in the state is still a far cry but the Hill State People’s Democratic Party (HSPDP) feels there can be an alliance among them.
“I don’t see or expect unification. It is impossible. But there is a need that we come together in the form of an alliance,” HSPDP chief KP Pangniang told reporters on Saturday.
The unification of the regional forces has been much talked about. The United Democratic Party (UDP) reiterated it time and again but there seems to be no takers.
“Let other regional parties be there but we need close cooperation, mutual understanding and an alliance,” Pangniang said. “I am not against it (unification) but it will not happen. The need of the hour is an alliance (of regional parties),” he reiterated.
One reason why the regional forces could not unite is that the smaller regional parties tend to merge themselves with larger political parties.
The unification hope came a cropper recently when the People’s Democratic Front merged itself with the National People’s Party (NPP) which heads the ruling coalition.
The smaller regional parties played an important role in the formation of the government in 2018 as well as 2023 when the Assembly elections had thrown up fractured mandates.
The 2023 elections saw the entry of the Voice of the People Party which ended up winning four seats.
Opposition parties say the regional parties will be eaten up by the NPP given their proximity to it.
