The war of words between MDA allies – NPP and UDP – has intensified in the run up to the Sohiong Assembly election slated for May 10.
The choice of words and the way the political narratives have taken shape has raised questions if the NPP which is leading the State government is serious about dumping UDP from the ruling alliance once the poll results are out on May 13.
Yesterday, NPP spokesman Bajop Pyngrope while addressing an election campaign in Sohiong said that his party was ready to kick out UDP from the MDA government after May 13.
“UDP has been saying that it may cause a change in the government after the poll results but I am making it clear that NPP is ready to make UDP to sit in the opposition bench after May 13,” Pyngrope said.
Even NPP candidate for the Sohiong election Samlin Malngiang has dared the UDP to pull out of the ruling alliance.
“The way the UDP is ridiculing Chief Minister Conrad Sangma and the NPP as a whole is unacceptable. If UDP is really man enough, it should immediately withdraw itself from the MDA and not continue to cling on to the government as it is doing today,” he said at a poll rally.
Meanwhile, National People Youth Front (NPYF) president Kitborlang Nongrem while speaking at an election rally at Rangshken yesterday has said that one minister belonging to other MDA allies would have to leave to pave way for Malngiang if he won the election from Sohiong.
“If Malngiang wins the poll I would request the NPP leadership to remove at least one minister from the cabinet so that he (Malngiang) could be accommodated,” Nongrem said.
The statement by the NPP youth wing chief has cast another shadow about the future of the UDP in the MDA government. Presently, UDP has two ministers in the government.
What is more interesting to watch is the proposed merger of PDF with NPP on May 6.
According to sources, the merger would lead to PDF getting one cabinet berth in the MDA government.
PDF which has two MLAs is currently in the process of completing all modalities for the merger with NPP.