The United Democratic Party (UDP) is not facing a split over the allotment of tickets for the next state elections, party general secretary Jemino Mawthoh assured today.
Speaking to Highland Post, Mawthoh said that there is no disunity or conflict within the UDP, which is moving unitedly forwards with the support of the public.
Former Deputy Chief Minister and the party’s adviser Bindo Lanong has publicly expressed his disappointment at being passed over in favour of independent MLA Lambor Malngiang in the race for the UDP ticket for Nongkrem constituency.
It has been said that the UDP is now a divided house, split between the original party and a duplicate.
Lanong has been with the party since 1997 while Malngiang has not formally joined the UDP as of yet, a fact which irked the former, who is looking to make a comeback to the Assembly for the first time since 2013.
Mawthoh said that the UDP has the highest respect for the veteran members of the party but, when it comes to elections, the voice of the people is important.
“If a party leader has been with the party for a very long time but is no longer wanted by the public then this aspect should also be taken into consideration,” he said.
Lanong specifically blamed Mawthoh and UDP president Metbah Lyngdoh for his non-selection for the Nongkrem seat. Mawthoh today said that the party has procedures for choosing candidates laid down, which include the names being assessed by its election committee. The UDP only takes collective decisions and does not base its choices on individual capacity, he added.
