Ahead of the Lok Sabha election in the State, the UDP which is an ally of the ruling Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) today suffered a blow as several of its top functionaries in Ri-Bhoi district resigned from the party.
Among the 31 leaders who quit the party include former party MLA Donbok Khymdeit who is the president of UDP Ri-Bhoi District Committee as also working president of the central executive committee of the party.
Other party leaders who left the party today are former MDC Rangkynsai R. Makdoh (adviser), Raphael Massar (chief adviser), Queen Mary Rymbai (joint secretary State women’s wing), Jeffrey Khymdeit (joint secretary, State youth wing), Prosper Dorphang (secretary, UDP Ri-Bhoi), Rajes Lapang (working president, Ri-Bhoi UDP youth wing), Richard Moksha and Kitdorius Dkhar (vice presidents, Ri-Bhoi UDP youth wing).
“We took this decision after properly considering the future of the people of Ri-Bhoi,” said Khymdeit, the former UDP legislator from Mawhati.
“We will sit together soon and decide which party we will join,” he added.
However, sources said that these leaders who left the UDP today besides former Nongpoh MDC Rona Khymdeit will join the NPP.
They will be inducted into the NPP on March 22 at a special gathering at Sajer, Nongpoh in the presence of State NPP president Prestone Tynsong and NPP Lok Sabha candidate Ampareen Lyngdoh.
The decision of these senior leaders to leave the UDP has shattered the party in Ri-Bhoi district especially since the party is contesting the Lok Sabha election from Shillong seat with Robertjune Kharjahrin as its candidate.
