Bindo Lanong to lead UDP till new president is elected

SHILLONG, AUG 9: The United Democratic Party (UDP) has entrusted its senior most leader Bindo M Lanong to lead the party till the new president is elected by the general council meeting which will be held next month.

The party has also decided to leave it to wisdom of the parliamentary party (PP) to decide on the post of Assembly Speaker.

The decision was unanimously taken in the central executive committee (CEC) meeting of the UDP held at the MLA Hostel here on Friday. The meeting was attended by MLAs, MDCs and leaders from the different districts of the state.

It was also held following the demise of former UDP president and former Assembly Speaker Dr Donkupar Roy on July 28.

Talking to media persons, UDP senior working president Bindo M Lanong said the meeting has resolved that the present CEC will continue to function until the general council will finally sit, consider, decide and elect the new office bearers for the next three years on September 11.

On the issue related to the post of the Assembly Speaker, Lanong said the party has unanimously decided that the post should go to the UDP since the post was being held by late Dr Donkupar.

Asked on who will be the care taker of the party, general secretary Jemino Mawthoh said by virtue of being the senior most leader, Bindo Lanong will continue to lead the party till the new office bearers are elected.

He said the party has also left it to the wisdom of the parliamentary party (PP) to decide on who among the 8 MLAs which include two associate members (SK Sunn and Samuel Sangma) will fill the vacancy post of the Assembly Speaker.

Bindo further informed that an organizing committee to be headed by PP leader and cabinet minister Metbah Lyngdoh was also constituted during the meeting.

He also said that the party has unanimously decided to endorse the decision to be taken by the Shella unit on the candidature for the upcoming bye-election to the Shella seat, in the general meeting to be held on August 22.  The Shella Unit has proposed late Dr Donkupar Roy’s son Balajied Kupar Synrem to be candidate of the party and this will be officially declared during the said meeting.

By Our Reporter