Re-elected President of the United Democratic Party (UDP) Metbah Lyngdoh has said that the introduction of the Anti-Defection law could prevent toppling games in the autonomous district councils.
The UDP-led executive committee headed by Titos Chyne was ousted by the NPP-Congress combine in June.
It may be mentioned that Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla during his visit to the State in 2021 had assured that the Parliament would hold discussions with local institutions and respective state governments on the idea of introducing Anti-Defection law in the ADCs.
The demand for it is long-standing as the members of the District Councils (MDCs) keep shifting their allegiance to different political parties, resulting in frequent political instability in the ADCs.
Chief Minister Conrad Sangma too had agreed on the political instability in grassroots politics because of the absence of the Anti Defection Law or the Tenth Schedule.
Speaking to reporters after being re-elected as the party President, Lyngdoh said the UDP will again pursue the Inner Line Permit (ILP) demand with the state government.
“We will pursue the matter again and again till it is being responded to in a positive manner,” he said, adding, “This is not the first time that the CM and his cabinet colleague had met the Prime Minister on issues like ILP and inclusion of the Khasi-Garo language in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution. Therefore we have to sit again with the CM to see how these matters are being pursued in the future.”
On the unification of the regional parties in the state as desired by its late party president, Dr. Donkupar Roy, Lyngdoh said, “Effort is on. We are trying to ensure that the regionalism approach is still in place. We are still together as part of the Regional Democratic Alliance (RDA). We will meet again and discuss the issues concerning the indigenous people.”
The RDA was formed in 2017 by the HSPDP, UDP and Garo National Council (GNC).
The UDP President also said that no discussions have taken place for a common candidate to contest in the upcoming Lok Sabha poll and seat sharing for district council election next year.
Meanwhile, Lyngdoh who will lead the party for the next three years said that the party looks up for better performance in the future even as he praised the team work and contribution of all the party leaders including members.
Jemino Mawthoh was re-elected general secretary, while state minister Paul Lyngdoh and MLAs Lahkmen Rymbui, Renikton Tongkhar and Nujorki Sungoh were made working presidents.
MLA Mayralborn Syiem, and former MLAs PT Sawkmie and Shitlang Pale were elected vice-presidents.
