SHILLONG:
The United Democratic Party (UDP) will elect new office-bearers on July 29
when a general council meeting will be held.
General Secretary of the party, Jemino Mawthoh, said, “The tenure of the current body expired in 2022 but because of the pandemic and the Assembly elections, we had to postpone that. Today, we took a decision that the election of the office-bearers will be held on July 29.”
In this connection, a nomination committee will be in place which will comprise all the district presidents and secretaries, presidents and secretaries of the frontal wings – the youth wing, women’s wing and the farmers’ wing.
The nomination committee will recommend the names but it is the general council which has to accept.
It will also include active members of the party – Renikton Lyngdoh Tongkhar, PT Sawkmie, Mayralborn Syiem, Nujorki Sungoh and two members from Garo Hills.
He said the president and general secretary of the party will be ex-officio members of this nomination committee.
Meanwhile, the party is also set to nominate its new president during the general council meeting even as incumbent chief Metbah Lyngdoh said that he was leaving it to the party to decide on whether he should continue to lead it.
The decision was taken at the meeting of the party’s central executive committee (CEC) held here on Friday.
Speaking to reporters, he said, “I leave it to the party to decide on that (whether I should continue to lead the UDP as its president). I will not say anything on that because if I say it is as good as asking favours from my friends. So it will not be appropriate to say a word.”
He said that the party has been able to perform well because of the support of each and every member from across the state.
The four-time legislator of Mairang constituency was elected as president of the UDP on September 11, 2019 after the demise of its former president (L) Dr Donkupar Roy.