Roy as prez, UDP has five working prez

SHILLONG, FEB 27: The much hyped demand for leadership change in the United Democratic Party (UDP) fell through as the

old warhorse Donkupar Roy was re-nominated as the president of the biggest regional party of the state.

Interestingly, while former deputy chief minister, Bindo M Lanong and UDP West Shillong legislator Paul Lyngdoh have been re-nominated as working presidents, the party has added another three to the post. The new working presidents besides Lanong and Lyngdoh are Mairang MLA Metbah Lyngdoh, Sohra MLA Titus Chyne, JHADC MDC, Mooonlight Pariat, Maham Singh Sangma and Donbok Khymdeit.

The former party working president Jemino Mawthoh has been nominated as the party’s general secretary. The axe has felled on the former general secretary Alantry F Dkhar who has been nominated as the vice president.

Downplaying the much-talked about change of leadership, the UDP chief Donkupar Roy said, “The major change we as a party is seeking is the ‘change in the approach’ on how to handle the various issues concerning the state.”

“We have decided to work as a team where everybody’s role is equally important,” he said while informing the districts are already gearing up preparing for organizing the party to ensure victory is on its side.

When pointing out that he has been termed as a ‘soft person’, Roy while admitting said, “Yes, I am soft but I am not weak. Weak is when you can’t take decision but I have been able to take decision and I have never succumbed to any pressure.”

Roy said the party will strive to emerge as the single largest party in the upcoming 2018 state polls.

“We will try our best to ensure the party comes out as the single largest party,” Roy told reporters after the general council meeting for electing the new executive body of the party, held on Saturday.

He however said, “To achieve this, we will have to be more acquainted with the issues faced by the people of the state.”

Roy, also a former chief minister, predicted that the votes of the biggest national parties – Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which is the ruling at the centre, are likely to be divided in the upcoming Meghalaya polls.

“Those who believe in national parties will continue to vote for them. But now the votes of the two big national parties will be divided,” he said while disclosing that the UDP will also try to have an understanding with like-minded parties.

The members which have been nominated to post of vice president also includes – former minister JA Lyngdoh, O Areng, Alantry F Dkhar, Welcome Dkhar, Rona Khymdeit (Nongpoh MDC) and HB Nongsiej (MLA/MDC).

While Michael War was nominated as finance secretary, OB Tariang as Treasurer, Marki Mulieh (MDC), GG Bung Snaitang, Renold Kharkamni, Voilet Lyngdoh (MDC), Gilbert Nongrum and Lindin Momin as secretaries, Hilander Kharmalki, Alan Marwein, Aibor R Thangkhiew as joint secretaries.

The Farmer’s Wing will be headed by MLA Remington Pyngrope as president and R Nongrum as secretary and the women’s wing by Pretty Kharpyngrope as president and Banalari Khongwar as vice president.

The Youth Wing will be headed by Mawlai MLA Embhahlang Syiemlieh as president and Hamletson Dohling as general secretary while former MLA Mihsalan Suchiang and BG Momin has been nominated as advisers.-By Our Reporter