UDP, HSPDP pre-poll pact

A UDP-HSPDP Coordination Committee was accordingly formed to work out the modalities and prepare the alliance for fielding common candidates from the 36 constituencies in Khasi-Jaintia Hills region in the forthcoming 2018 state elections.

At present the UDP, which is also one of the biggest regional parties in the state, is having eight legislators, while the HSPDP is having four legislators in the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly.

The announcement was made jointly by the UDP and HSPDP presidents after holding their respective central executive committee (CEC) meetings held in the city on Thursday.

“We have unanimously agreed to go for a pre-poll alliance,” UDP chief Donkupar Roy told reporters.

The Coordination Committee will be headed by Roy as chairman and HSPDP chief Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit as co-chairman, HSPDP Shillong City president Dr Karaheiman Shen – secretary, UDP vice president Allantry F Dkhar – joint secretary and 12 MLAs as members, he informed.

According to him, the committee would sit as soon as possible to discuss on the modalities of the newly formed alliance.

Asked, Roy said they would follow the convention in as far as a chief ministerial candidate is concerned.

“As per convention, MLAs in Meghalaya come together after the election to form the parliamentary party and accordingly decide on the leader,” he added.

On the other hand, Basaiawmoit said that the decision is the victory of the people who aspire to see the regional parties are working together in this election.

The HSPDP chief maintained that the two parties will combine force for the election but it is not for unification (merger).

It may be mentioned here, the HSPDP had earlier expressed that it is open for an alliance with the regional political parties to form a non-Congress and non-BJP government in the state. However, the UDP is also a member of the BJP led North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA).

Reacting to a query, Basaiawmoit however said today’s decision is for pre-poll alliance of regional political parties and the post-poll scenario will only be taken into consideration after the election.

“If we (regional alliance) are able to get the mandate of the people from even 32 seats, we no longer need to go for post-poll alliance with other parties,” he said.

Adding to this, Roy said that the UDP is not having any pre-poll alliance with the NEDA because it is just forum to discuss issues related to development of the region.

It was in 1978, the regional political parties (APHLC, HSPDP and PDIC) had also formed the government in the state with 33 MLAs, which however lasted for only 11 months.

While Roy said that whatever had happen in the past will be a lesson, Basaiawmoit however claimed that the UDP-HSPDP alliance will put forth the interest of the people and will ensure there will be fight for leadership.

Earlier, the Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement (KHNAM) had stated that it is open for a pre-poll alliance among the regional parties in the state.

When asked, UDP chief said that the alliance would like to welcome all political parties for their support.