The United Democratic Party (UDP) recently held a meeting to assess its disastrous performance in the recently-concluded Lok Sabha polls, with many reportedly of the opinion that the party’s alliance with the National People’s Party (NPP) in the state government cost them votes.
UDP candidate Robertjune Kharjahrin polled a measly 44,563 votes, a distant fourth place with just 4.29 per cent of the vote.
The UDP candidate had the backing, at least officially, of the Hill State People’s Democratic Party (HSPDP) under the banner of the Regional Democratic Alliance (RDA).
Today, party general secretary Jemino Mawthoh said that UDP members never thought they would lose in such a fashion since in the 2023 Assembly polls the party won 12 seats by polling around 2.99 lakh votes.
“The truth is that there have been many unpleasant events from time to time in the state, which angered the people and who reacted in the way they did,” Mawthoh said, adding that the public blamed the UDP for negative incidents under Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) government rule.
According to party sources, many who attended the post-mortem meeting had suggested that the main reason for the UDP’s poor performance is because of its alliance with the NPP. Some leaders had even suggested that the UDP withdraw support to the MDA government and rebuild the party.
When asked about this, Mawthoh said that multiple factors were to blame. One of the assessments is that the party has to reach out to the people more.
“There are many things the UDP has done but the party does not blow its own trumpet and therefore the people do not know. Now we will take to the people the things we have achieved,” Mawthoh said, adding that the party has also spoken out when it has disagreed with the government and continues to provide constructive suggestions to build up the society, politics and the state.
One example Mawthoh cited was the suggestions to the expert committee on the state reservation policy; the UDP submitted its suggestions last year while others have only done so recently. He also informed that the party was responsible for the government relaxing the age limit in government jobs from 32 to 37.
Despite the Lok Sabha setback, the UDP is eager for the elections to the Khasi and Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Councils (KHADC and JHADC).
Recounting the ups and downs of the party, Mawthoh said that in the 2013 Assembly election the UDP won eight seats and sat in the opposition. Five years later, the party was reduced to six seats but joined the NPP-led government. A further five years down the road it doubled its seat share to 12.
“This is the reason we say politics is a dynamic process, like what happened in the MP election where the vote share of the UDP went somewhere else,” he said, adding that the party will work harder and win back the confidence of the public.
