Senior United Democratic Party (UDP) leader Bindo M Lanong has been announced as the interim president of the party following the death of its president Donkupar Roy.
The UDP took this decision at the special central executive committee (CEC) meeting held at MLA Hostel here on Friday evening.
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It was decided that Lanong would lead the party till the election of new office bearers of the CEC.
The new office bearers of the CEC will elected in the upcoming general council of the UDP to be held in Shillong on September 11.
Leaders of the party from Khasi and Jaiñtia Hills and Garo Hills attended the meeting.
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Roy held the post of UDP president since 2004 till his death on July 28.
He also held post of Assembly Speaker from March 12, 2018 till his death.
He represented Shella Assembly constituency for the seventh consecutive terms since 1988.
Lanong, who was the deputy chief minister from 2010 to 2013, is the UDP’s senior working president at present.
During the meeting, the UDP leaders also decided to also visit Williamnagar in East Garo Hills district for reorganizing the party in Garo Hills on August 17.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, UDP general secretary, Jemino Mawthoh said that in the absence of the president Lanong by virtue of being the senior most leader, has to lead the party.
Lanong said that the present set up of the CEC will continue to function.
“This set up will continue until the general council finally sits, considers, decides and elects the new office bearers of the CEC for a term of three years,” Lanong told reporters.
The UDP is the main ally of the National People’s Party (NPP)-led MDA government.
Asked about the Speaker’s post, Mawthoh said that the party has decided to leave the matter to the legislature party of the UDP to decide.
The UDP has six MLAs and two Independent MLAs – Samuel Sangma and S.K. Sun – who are associate members of the party.
Mawthoh said that the UDP was optimistic that the legislature party would be able to address the matter very soon.