The resignation of Jemino Mawthoh from the United Democratic Party (UDP) may not have raised a storm but it has far reaching implications for the party. In any case party ideology has never been a strong point in regional parties. What has been the ideological mooring of the UDP since its birth? Only during elections does the Party spell out its agenda and that is to safeguard the interests of the Khasi-Jaintia-Garo people. There has never been a single dedicated agenda that the UDP has promoted in the interests of the people of Meghalaya. Once elections are over, the UDP has always offered itself to the national parties, thereby reducing itself to a weaker coalition partner. It did that during the several decades of Congress rule and when the National Peoples’ Party (NPP) needed the numbers the UDP was quick to join the ruling Party. Of the 12 MLAs that won the last elections in 2023 from the UDP, two are in the government – Kyrmen Shylla and Paul Lyngdoh and both have got good portfolios. It must be said to the credit of both that they are performing creditably. As Tourism and Social Welfare Minister, Paul Lyngdoh has put his Departments in the limelight but that credit goes to him and not to the UDP. As the youngest member of the cabinet, Kyrmen Shylla too has managed to stay the course. But both Paul Lyngdoh and Kyrmen Shylla don’t really need the UDP’s backing to win elections. In fact, other than the Voice of Peoples’ Party (VPP)candidates who have capitalised from their party’s commitment to cleanse the governance system of Meghalaya, all other candidates won on the strength of their personalities.
The question now is why an old guard of the UDP, Jemino Mawthoh who has been a great advocate of the Party and has engaged extensively with members of the public to seek their views on how the UDP could improve its position in the public eye, should choose to resign. What has changed between then and now? Will Mawthoh return to academics and say goodbye to politics? That’s unlikely! So what is Mawthoh’s way ahead? His toughest competitor from Nongthymmai Constituency is Charles Pyngrope who last won from the Trinamool Congress. In fact he is the only TMC candidate to win from the Khasi and Jaintia region. This also means that people did not vote for the TMC; they voted for Charles Pyngrope. Perhaps Mawthoh feels he could do better in a national party like the NPP or the BJP. The Congress in Meghalaya is reduced to one MLA in the Assembly and that’s not a party that a wise politician would choose. So it’s either the BJP or the NPP for Mr Mawthoh. He has been rather quiet after tendering his resignation and has not spelt out his future moves. Will Mawthoh’s exit trigger similar action from other UDP MLAs and non-MLAs too? Only time will tell!
