SHILLONG, SEPT 18: Disgruntle leaders of the United Democratic Party (UDP) Ranikor Circle today predicted that the Congress sitting legislator MM Danggo will have a smooth sailing in the upcoming 2018 state elections due to the blunder decision of the party.
Around 18 leaders and workers of the UDP-RC have also decided to quit the party as a mark of protest against its failure to allot the party ticket to Air Marshall Diengngan, who had just joined the party earlier last month.
Two vice presidents of the party were among those who have tendered their resignation letters to the party for extending full support to Diengngan in the upcoming elections from Ranikor constituency.
The UDP which has forged a pre-poll alliance with the Hill State People Democratic Party (HSPDP) had earlier decided to allot the party ticket to Pius Marwein.
“We have decided to quit from the party as a mark of opposition against the recent decision of the party with regards to the allotment of party ticket,” UDP-RC vice president in-charge upland Roshem Myrthong told reporters at a news conference held here on Monday.
Terming the party’s decision as a big mistake, he said, “This will only ensure that the sitting legislator will no doubt win again from the constituency even though people of the constituency are seeking for a change in 2018.”
He however said the from among the four candidates who have decided to join the fray from the constituency, Air Marshall Diengngan according to him has a better chance given the fact that he stood in the second place in the last 2014 MDC elections.
The other candidates include former minister Don Massar and BJP state women wing president Pelcy Snaitang.
Asked what made them then to decide to support Marwein earlier, Myrthong said that they have little hope that the UDP candidate Pius Marwein can give a tough fight to Danggo, who is also a cabinet minister, as he is yet to be matured in politics.
“I have worked with him (Marwein) for nine months in the sub-committee which he is heading as the chairman to chalk out programmes as part of the preparation for the elections, where I find that he does not have the capacity to implement them,” he said.
He added that in view of this, they decided that it is better not to support a candidate who lacks winnability as he will only destroy the objective to bring change in the constituency.
On whether they have expressed the matter before the party leadership, Myrthong said that they did request the party to review the decision but the party went ahead and took a hasty decision on the matter.
UDP-RC vice president Kuringstone D Shira said, “I had also spoken to the UDP chief Donkupar Roy on the grievances of the workers in which he assured that the matter will be looked into and that the candidate who get the maximum support will be given the ticket but it happen otherwise.”
Shira, who also resigned from the post, said that most of the Garos, Hajong and other non-Khasi tribes in the constituency have also expressed since 2008 on the need to elect a new leader due to poor development in the area.
Asked, Myrthong claimed that the sitting legislator had also approached them for their support and said, “But we have turn down the request because we do not agree with his style of working where development is not visible in past 20 years.”
He informed that Air Marshall Diengngan have also resigned from the UDP and has decided to go ahead with his preparation for the upcoming elections as an independent candidate.
By Our Reporter
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