SHILLONG, SEPT 28: The United Democratic Party (UDP), which is the main ally of the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance government, today said talks on the setting up of common candidates for the two Lok Sabha seats are on with the leaders of the MDA partners.
The Lok Sabha poll is slated to be held next year.
“Though the proposal is yet to be taken at the MDA level but talks between the leaders are on for exploring the possibility of setting up common candidates for the two MP seats,” UDP chief and Assembly Speaker Donkupar Roy told reporters here on Friday.
Stating that the response was a positive one, Roy claimed that all the leaders of the MDA partners agreed to the idea of having common candidates.
“However, who (candidates) will contest is still an issue that we have to sort out,” he said while reiterating that the UDP has made it clear that the party sponsored candidate who is acceptable to all partners should contest the Shillong parliamentary seat.
Denying that this is pre-condition set by the party, the UDP chief however said, “No, but the only condition is let the NPP contest from Tura seat and UDP from Shillong seat.”
Asked what if there is likelihood for the MDA partners turning down the proposal, Roy confidently said, “We always hope for the best.”
The National People’s Party (NPP)-led MDA government comprises of the UDP, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), People’s Democratic Front (PDF), Hill State People’s Democratic Party (HSPDP) and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).
The NPP is having 20 MLAs while the UDP is with 7 MLAs in the 60-member Assembly.
By Our Reporter
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