Shillong, Nov 6: UDP general secretary Titosstarwell Chyne on Friday said the Tenth Schedule is not yet a complete system to stop defection, and an MLA who wants to leave a party should first resign.
Chyne was reacting to the exodus of 11 UDP legislators, 8 to BJP and 3 to NPP.
He said those who left, except for one or two, did not blame the party. They left for personal reasons.
“There is continuity in any political party even if MLAs and leaders leave,” Chyne said.
He said out of 35 office bearers, 14 left UDP including MLAs. The rest, including MDCs and leaders, are still with the party.
He said the recent Central Executive Committee meeting saw full attendance, and the party functioning has not been interrupted. UDP still has a president and general secretary.
The next step, Chyne said, is reorganisation in places where deserted MLAs were office bearers. The youth wing is hit hardest, with president Kyrmen Shylla and general secretary Balajied Kupar Synrem both defecting to BJP. A general council meeting of the youth wing will be held by December to elect new office bearers.
Chyne said people, especially senior citizens who like regionalism, now feel the state needs a regional party and are inclined towards the UDP. He claimed the party has got feelers from many quarters who are ready to join and even contest the 2028 Assembly polls.
“We are hopeful that we will move forward to strengthen the party,” he said.
He recalled that since the time of EK Mawlong and Dr Donkupar Roy, UDP’s alliance in coalition governments was a gentleman’s agreement, with nothing in black and white, based on mutual respect.
