UDP constitutes election panel for LS, ADC polls

SHILLONG:

The United Democratic Party (UDP) on Monday constituted the state election committee (SEC) for selection of candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha and autonomous district council (ADC) elections, slated to be held next year.

After chairing the meeting of the party’s central executive committee (CEC), UDP chief Metbah Lyngdoh said, “Today, the CEC has approved the selection of members of the SEC and the SEC will be for the MP and MDC elections.”

“We have entrusted the SEC to look into the matters related to the candidature of those who have expressed their interest to contest from our party,” he added.

The UDP has decided to contest both Shillong and Tura parliamentary seats, which are presently represented by Congress MP Vincent H Pala and NPP MP Agatha K Sangma respectively.

Lyngdoh informed that the CEC has also resolved to endorse the decision unanimously taken by leaders of the UDP and the Hill State People’s Democratic Party (HSPDP) in a meeting held on November 7, to work together for the upcoming election to the Shillong parliamentary seat.

He said for the Tura parliamentary seat, the CEC leaves it to the SEC along with a few senior leaders from Garo Hills to decide on the candidate.

“At the same time, the CEC has also directed all respective districts and circles to continue to work for the party and strengthen it and to be prepared for both the MP and MDC elections,” he said.

To a question, the UDP chief said the matter relating to the candidate for the Shillong parliamentary seat is left to the SEC and in consultation with all stakeholders a decision will be taken together with the HSPDP under the banner of the Regional Democratic Alliance (RDA).

According to a party source, there are three ticket aspirants for the Shillong seat and they include former HYC president Robertjune Kharjahrin, who joined the party on Saturday, Khasi Authors Society president Dr DRL Nonglait and former Mawlai legislator PT Sawkmie.

He said that the SEC will be sitting as early as possible to announce the candidates for both the seats.

Lyngdoh also said that the RDA also extended an invitation to other regional political parties to come together with the alliance for the coming LS polls.

“Of course, from time to time, we always invite and call all regional parties to come together and to work with us as a party. HSPDP is the only party that we have been working together for many years and we hope and believe that we will continue in the days and years to come and at the same time we also extend our invitation to other regional and like=minded parties to come together and be under the banner of the RDA,” he asserted.  

Whether the UDP will seek support of its coalition partner National People’s Party (NPP), Lyngdoh said, “It is yet to be discussed but anybody who would like to extend their willingness to support the party they are welcome. In fact, it is a call from the party so that is the decision we have made so we will go with that.”

He also termed the notion that the presence of too many candidates will only be an advantage to the sitting Congress MP as “mere anticipation” and said, “The question on that doesn’t make much sense as we have our own way of working. And we feel this time we are on the right track.”

Further, the UDP chief expressed confidence that people of the state will support the party in the LS polls.

“We will not be wrong this time that the people are very much on the side of the UDP… I have interacted with so many people from all walks of life and they have expressed their confidence in the UDP and will vote for the party in the MP election this time,” he said.

Asked if the Voice of the People Party (VPP) will have an impact in the LS elections, Lyngdoh however said, “We don’t want to talk anything about other political parties but our strength is that UDP has been there for many years and people have had the confidence in UDP for so long and I am very sure this time after what has happened in last MLA election, people will realise that UDP is the only party they believe.”

Meanwhile, the CEC also discussed the problems faced by the farmers and asked the farmers’ wing headed by Mawsynram MLA Olan Sing Suin as president to hold a meeting in the first week of December. (Another report on Page 3 )