LS polls: UDP enticing non Cong parties

Shillong, November 6: United Democratic Party (UDP), the largest regional party in Meghalaya, will soon be meeting non Congress political parties to try and cobble up support for its party candidate for the forthcoming Lok Sabha election slated early next year.

The party has decided to approach Hills State People’s Democratic Party (HSPDP), Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement (KHNAM), National People’s Party (NPP) and Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) in its bid to seek their support for the party candidate to defeat Congress MP nominee.

UDP working president Paul Lyngdoh- whose name is also doing the round as the party’s likely Lok Sabha MP candidate, told reporters on Wednesday after the UDP review meeting, “We have unanimously decided to adopt a “consensus-approach” by holding a consultation meeting with all like-minded political parties to seek their support with regards to the party’s proposed candidate (yet to announce) for the forthcoming Lok Sabha polls from the Shillong parliamentary seat.”

Lyngdoh said the consultation process will begin within one week’s time. He informed that only after eliciting the views of other non Congress political parties will the UDP announce its candidate for the Shillong Lok Sabha seat.

Even though the HSPDP and the KHNAM have  already made up their mind to support Rev. (Dr.) PBM Basaiawmoit, who is the candidate for the Shillong Lok Sabha seat by the People’s Candidate Forum (PCF). But UDP is unfazed by the earlier decision of the two political parties and felt that as the party is has already tied up with North East Political Parties Front (NEPPF) to get a space at the national level, it would request both the parties to reconsider their decision.

Lyngdoh said,  “We would urged the HSPDP and KHNAM to reconsider their decision of supporting Basaiawmoit as the UDP is one biggest regional parties in the state having more legislators than other regional parties.” He also felt at the party has tied up with NEPPF it would provide a lobby to voice issues concerning Meghalaya at the national level.

Lyngdoh also buttressed his argument of support for the UDP candidate saying it can be a part of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) through NEPPF. As the HSPDP has supported the UDP in various issues earlier, he felt that the party must reconsider its decision and support the largest regional party candidate in the state for the Shillong Lok Sabha seat.

UDP meeting also reviewed the party’s preparedness for the upcoming district council’s elections in the state. Lyngdoh said the party wants to ensure that it gets maximum number of seats in the district council

Lyngdoh informed that the party’s district committees in the state have been directed to re-organize the party’s preparation for the elections and also speed up the process of finalizing the names of the candidates for the district council’s polls. – By Our Reporter