Shylla bats for pre-poll umbrella

By Our Reporter

SHILLONG, MAY 19: UDP MDC from Nongkrem Hispreaching Son Shylla has suggested the need for pre-poll alliance among the regional political parties to ensure they form the new government in 2018.

“There is a good chance for the regional political parties to work together on this by taking advantage of the present political situation in the state,” Shylla told reporters at a news conference held here on Friday.

Pointing out at the position of the Congress in the country, he however said, “Though the BJP is in the ruling at the Centre, but it still has a long journey in the state of Meghalaya.”

In view of this, Shylla said that the people of the state want the regional political parties – United Democratic Party (UDP), Hill State People Democratic Party (HSPDP) and Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement (KHNAM) to be united in the upcoming 2018 state elections.

“If they are willing to combine together, we can have a chief minister who is a Khasi,” he said.

He also recalled that the regional political parties (APHLC, HSPDP and PDIC) had also formed the government in the state in 1978 with 33 MLAs.

“Though the then government was toppled after 11 months, but it was under this government the state got its Meghalaya Land Transfer Act to protect the land rights of the people,” he said.

According to him, the reason for the collapsed of the then government formed by regional political parties was because their decision to work together (post poll alliance) came after the elections.

Asked, the former KHADC chief said that he is willing to pave way for the HSPDP in the 2018 elections by not contesting if the idea of unification is accepted by the regional political parties.

“I am ready to sacrifice by not contesting the MLA election if such unity comes,” he said while pointing out that the UDP vote polled during the district council bye-election was over 6000 and HSPDP was only 4000.

He however said that he would be left with no option but to go ahead with his decision to contest from Nongkrem against HSPDP chief Ardent M Basaiawmoit if they are not willing to work together.

Meanwhile, Shylla also suggested the need to form a committee of all the regional political parties to ensure that the new government is formed with an aim to uproot corruption from the state.

“To achieve this, we need to start fighting against corruption right from the election time because a clean election would bring about a clean and corruption free government,” he said.

Reacting to a query, the UDP MDC said that he would also soon take up the matter with his party.