Staff Reporter
SHILLONG:
The United Democratic Party (UDP) president Metbah Lyngdoh said there is a political vacuum to be filled in the state but the party has not been able to convince the voters and present itself as a viable political choice for them.
Delivering a speech on December 6 at the gathering to announce the names of candidates, he said that in the previous election, the party managed to hold on to its strongholds and win a respectable number of seats, but it was not enough to form a government on its own as the regional party is limited only to a few pockets.
“We hope that this 2023, people will give us the mandate since in many pockets, the people of the state are in search of an independent political voice of their own,” he said.
“Many like me, disillusioned with these national parties, see UDP as a political alternative. I strongly believe that only a regional party can develop our state, stand against injustice meted out to the state and stand up for its language and culture,” Lyngdoh said.
He urged the people to rejuvenate and present the UDP as a more acceptable and strong political force to reckon with.
Regional parties vs national parties
Lyngdoh said that the state of Meghalaya has always seen national parties dominating the political landscape of the North Eastern state.
He said that unlike the other states like Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim where regional parties rule the roost, the UDP that was founded by late EK Mawlong is a meagre player here.
“At present, there is a growing need for a strong-independent political alternative, which could stand up for the aspirations of the people of the state. In politics, regionalism is an ideology that highlights the local identity, the need for independent regional planning and administrative freedom. I feel there is scope for a regional political party in the state to fulfil the dreams of the youth and the need of the people of Meghalaya, which the national parties have failed in doing,” he said.
He said that in UDP, there is no high command and big boss culture, political arrogance to stop them from thinking about the state which drew people from national parties to join the UDP.
Lyngdoh said that the UDP has been able to save the state from losing its good image.
He added that Meghalaya can also look up to states such as Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Bengal and Odisha that have their own regional parties and pledged to work for the poor and the marginalised of the state.