Staff Reporter
SHILLONG:
The United Democratic Party (UDP), on August 11, exuded confidence that it will succeed in the 2023 Assembly elections riding on three attributes – being the oldest party, having a “good team” and the “quality” of its candidates.
“There is no doubt that we are one of the oldest parties in the state. That is an advantage for us since most of the people are aware of us. Secondly, we have a good team in the party and with it we can roll the party forward. Moreover, we are going to stress on the quality of the candidates, especially those with a mindset to work for the people of the state,” UDP president Metbah Lyngdoh said.
Lyngdoh also said that the party has zeroed down on candidates for the 2023 assembly polls but that the final call will be taken by the state election committee. “The party will announce the first list of candidates soon,” he said.
The UDP president, however, ruled out the All India Trinamool Congress as the party’s competitor in the upcoming polls.
“The UDP is ready to fight with any party and we are prepared. We have started much in advance and would like to see that our candidates, team and organisation are in pace to fight with any candidates from any political party,” Lyngdoh said.
The UDP president also said that there will be no pre-poll alliance with the National People’s Party (NPP) but it will honour the one with the Hill State People’s Democratic Party (HSPDP) that was endorsed before the 2018 under the Regional Democratic Alliance (RDA) till the end of the present term.
“Looking at the NPP I don’t see anything but we never had any discussion so far,” Lyngdoh said on pre poll alliance.
On speculations that one of the HSPDP legislator (Renikton Lyngdoh Tongkhar) joining the UDP before the 2023 polls and whether this will spoil the equation between the two regional parties, Lyngdoh said, “UDP and HSPDP are still there under the banner of RDA till the end of this term. That is the commitment that we have given.”