The United Democratic Party that received a poll misfortune in the just concluded Assembly polls winning just six seats, reviewed its poll debacle and vowed to aggressively fight back by strengthening the party.
This resolution was adopted by the central executive committee meeting of the UDP held at the official residence of party president and Assembly Speaker, Donkupar Roy Dkhar here on Saturday.
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The UDP had forged a pre-poll alliance with the Hill State People’s Democratic Alliance in the Khasi-Jaiñtia region that has 36 seats, and with the Garo National Council in the Garo region that has 24 Assembly seats.
Under the banner of Regional Democratic Alliance, the three regional political parties contested from as many as 54 out of 60 seats, where the UDP, HSPDP and GNC put up 35 candidates, 13 candidates, and 6 candidates respectively.
However, the UDP and HSPDP managed to get just six and two MLAs respectively, while the GNC drew a blank.
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At present, eight legislators of the UDP and HSPDP supported the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance coalition government led by the National People’s Party, with Tura MP, Conrad Kongkal Sangma as Chief Minister.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, UDP working president, Paul Lyngdoh said that the meeting reviewed the party’s poor performance in the Assembly election, and after hearing views and feedbacks from party leaders from various constituencies, one of the main reasons for the defeat was the lack of resources.
Lyngdoh who lost the election to business magnate, Mohendro Rapsang of the Congress from West Shillong constituency, alleged that opponents especially the Congress has abused by using money to buy votes.
He alleged that former chief minister Mukul Sangma had also launched a scheme that helped the Congress, which was in power that time, to buy the voters.
Stating that the Election Commission and police could have done more to check and control the use of money, Lyngdoh alleged that they (commission and police) were more concerned about erecting and using of party flags during election campaigns, instead of checking the flow of money to constituencies which was used as inducement.
According to Lyngdoh, resources are needed, but not by abusing and buying people during elections.
On the party’s preparations for the upcoming elections to the district councils and Lok Sabha next year, Lyngdoh said that the party has decided to work aggressively to strengthen the party.
While an election committee headed by the party president has been formed, a core committee with Lyngdoh as chairman was also formed to plan strategise and coordinate in the party.
The core committee would also objectively assess the performance of the regional alliance in the just concluded Assembly polls.
“The alliance has helped in some constituencies but we will analyse the alliance’s performance constituency wise and then come out with a report,” Lyngdoh said.
Asked if the regional alliance would continue, Lyngdoh said that based on the outcome from the analysis, a decision would be taken whether the alliance should continue or break.