Shillong, Sep 10: Amid reports that eight to nine its MLAs are preparing to join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the United Democratic Party (UDP) will hold an emergency meeting of its central executive committee (CEC) here on Friday.
UDP general secretary and Sohra MDC Titosstarwell Chyne informed reporters today that all MLAs, MDCs and party office bearers have been invited to the party headquarters as Friday (September 11) is also the party’s foundation day.
Chyne said the party has received no official communication from any MLA confirming plans to leave the party, a subject that has been at the top of many newspapers and broadcasts for several days now.
Chyne said that he had met the MLAs who are reportedly likely to defect over the phone but none of them gave clear indications that they will quit the UDP.
On reports that the MLAs are not happy with party president and Mairang MLA Metbah Lyngdoh, he said that to blame any individual is easy but if someone has any issues within the party they should have taken them up through the internal party machine.
“I don’t mind taking responsibility as president of GS (general secretary); that would not be something personal but for the party’s interest,” Chyne said, adding that the door is always open for members to share their grievances.
Instead of being discussed openly within the party, he lamented that the matter is being played out in public through the media.
Chyne was speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the launch of a book on the former Chief Minister BB Lyngdoh and he remembered some words of the late politician. Chyne said it is sad if it is true that MLAs from an indigenous party join a national party like the BJP. He recalled Lyngdoh’s words that if you jump into the sea, you will drown but if you drown in a pond, you can still be saved.
