The United Democratic Party (UDP) could enter into a pre-poll alliance for the next state elections but all indications are that the party, by its own calculations, will sweep to power on its own.
Speaking to Highland Post, UDP general secretary Jemino Mawthoh said that other regional parties are withering and haemorrhaging support to the UDP.
“The longing of the UDP to unify the jaidbynriew under the UDP flag is taking shape like never before. Everyone wants to join us and we will lead the government,” Mawthoh said.
So far, the party has finalised candidates for more than 30 seats. Although Mawthoh spoke about unifying the jaidbynriew, the UDP is also hopeful of cracking Garo Hills and winning a few seats there; it currently has zero from the region but its second-place finishes in a few GHADC seats at the last election gives the party some confidence going forwards.
Speaking about the Regional Democratic Alliance (RDA), which the UDP is in with the Hill State People’s Democratic Party (HSPDP), Mawthoh said that the RDA was a post-election formation to bring regional outfits together under one umbrella, although it ended up just being for the UDP and HSPDP.
Although he said that there is “no harm” in the RDA continuing, smaller regional parties are becoming weak while the UDP is gaining in strength. Any possibility of a pre-poll alliance with any party has to be discussed within the UDP, he added.
Mawthoh also took the opportunity to criticise national parties for trying to corporatise politics, saying, “Let them use the money factor but UDP will use love and unity of its people.”
