Staff Reporter
SHILLONG:
The United Democratic Party (UDP) will be richer by five sitting MLAs as they are safe to be joining the party soon.
Making the claim on December 6, party president Metbah Lyngdoh informed that five sitting legislators are joining the party and very soon the names will be revealed.
Speaking to reporters after announcing the first list of candidates, he said that the party wants to come out with the second soon, probably before Christmas.
“There are candidates who are still in service and their names cannot be declared, and there are also sitting MLAs who will wait till the end of the term or resign. We want to let the people know who our candidates are,” he said.
Though Lyngdoh did not mention the names of the sitting MLAs, but speculations are rife that Trinamool Congress MLA, Shitlang Pale, HSPDP’s, Renikton Lyngdoh Tongkhar, suspended Congress MLA, Mayralborn Syiem, Independent MLA, Lambor Malngiang, suspended Congress MLA, PT Sawkmie will join the party.
As for candidates in Garo Hills, he said that there are other candidates from the region.
Replying to a question whether the party will contest from all the 60 seats, he said that the party is working on it and is confident of winning the elections.
“It is up to the people to decide, we are trying to field the right candidate in the right constituency. We have received a very positive response from the ground which favours the UDP. So, we are working in that direction,” he said.
Female candidates
On the other hand, Lyngdoh said that he wants more women to come forward and be part of governance subsequently. “However, so far we don’t have any woman candidate (apply for party ticket),” he said.
He expressed optimism that candidates will not jump to other parties and there is a process before they finalise the names of the candidates.
Stating that the party will have to look into this aspect before announcing the second list of candidates, Lyngdoh said, “I want women to come forward and apply for the party.”
Earlier while announcing the first list of 32 candidates, the UDP chief had also paid tribute to the only woman freedom fighter of the state ‘Ka Phan Nonglait’.
Contesting from one seat
Asked whether he will contest from two seats, a visibly irritated Lyngdoh said, “It is a story fabricated by someone and there is nothing of that sort. Why contest from two seats? We have a candidate from the seat that some people are talking about.”
UDP chief on Lanong
With regard to senior party leader and veteran politician Bindo Lanong, he said that the party is not neglecting anyone and have full respect for everyone but at the end of the day everyone has to work for the party.
He said that he has not met Lanong so far.
“There is no anti-incumbency at all. We are working as a party and as a team. We have been able to declare 32 names officially and it shows that the party is united as one, we may have differences whatever but we have sorted it out,” Lyngdoh said.
As for the pre-poll alliance with Regional Democratic Alliance (RDA) and Hill State People’s Democratic Party (HSPDP), he said that RDA is still there and has a very good understanding with them.
He, however, said that the outcome of the alliance was not proper.
It may be recalled that the RDA was formed in 2017. The HSPDP won 2 seats while UDP secured 6 seats.