The United Democratic Party’s (UDP) win in Sohiong has boosted the NPP-led Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA-2) in the State and even sealed their relationship in the coalition.
The UDP has been on the receiving end of a barrage of criticism and threats from its supposed ally and leader of the coalition government, the NPP that the former will be thrown out of the alliance after the Sohiong Assembly seat election.
The choice of words and the way the political narratives have taken shape during the campaign in the run up to the Sohiong deferred polls has raised questions if the NPP is serious about dumping UDP from the ruling alliance once results are out.
Even NPP spokesman Bajop Pyngrope during one of the campaigns said that his party was ready to kick out UDP from the MDA government after May 13 while National People Youth Front (NPYF) president Kitborlang Nongrem said that one minister belonging to other MDA allies would have to leave to pave way for Samlin Malngiang, if he won the election from Sohiong.
Political observers opined that these are just political rhetoric in the game of politics as whoever wins—considering the UDP and the NPP are strong contenders in Sohiong—the NPP still emerges stronger especially with the merger of the People’s Democratic Front (PDF).
The NPP which earlier won 26 seats mostly from Garo Hills, with the merger of PDF increased to 28. It is also backed by the UDP that now has 12 MLAs, two each from the BJP and HSPDP as well as two independents.
