HDR Lyngdoh, who lost the Sohiong seat in 2018 by more than 600 votes while Home Minister, was today formally welcomed into the arms of the United Democratic Party (UDP).
HDR quit the ailing Congress recently and was inducted into the UDP today, with a host of senior party figures making the journey to Sohiong for the event. These included party president and Speaker of the Assembly Metbah Lyngdoh, general secretary Jemino Mawthoh, Jaiaw MDC Paul Lyngdoh, Mawphlang MLA Eugeneson Lyngdoh and another recent Congress-turned-UDP politician, Nongpoh MLA Balajied Rani.
Presenting a united front on all counts, HDR, who was flanked by his family members, said that his downfall in 2018 was caused by divisions within his own family but that these have been healed.
“A new movement has started and in every meeting we go there is certainty for the UDP and we will not let this support of the public go in vain,” he added while urging party workers not to take things for granted.
Paul Lyngdoh, who, like HDR and Mawthoh, lost his seat in 2018, said, “HDR, Jemino and myself shared the same fate in 2018 but the state now needs a change because for 35 years the national parties have ruled and it is time to take back the keys to our house.”
Laban-Mawprem MDC Mitchel Wankhar said that while the National People’s Party (NPP) is growing, it is obvious that the ship will sink due to overcrowding. Wankhar was himself a member of the NPP until April.
Rani, meanwhile, explained that while he won his Nongpoh seat on a Congress ticket, the party at all levels lacked support of the leaders and he thanked the UDP for accepting him into its fold.
HDR also described the Congress as a sinking ship that cannot come back to power. He joined the UDP, he added, with the blessing of the people and predicted that the people will reject not just the Congress but the NPP and BJP as well in 2023.
Mawthoh, meanwhile, described it as a big boost for the UDP that more than 5,000 people attended the event and described HDR joining as a big boost.
