The United Democratic Party (UDP), a member of the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) 2 government, will soon raise its various concerns about the way the state is going in a meeting with Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma.
UDP president Metbah Lyngdoh today told reporters that these concerns include the controversial border deal struck last year with Assam and the ongoing process to resolve the remaining six areas of difference between the two states and the need for the MDA 2 to have a common minimum programme.
However, any raising of issues is almost certainly going to be in the politest of terms as the UDP, even though it is the second-largest party in the Assembly, does not have the numbers to really threaten the government.
Sangma is currently away from Shillong and Lyngdoh felt sure that the CM will address the UDP’s concerns and take its suggestions into consideration.
Meanwhile, Lyngdoh claimed that the UDP candidate for the delayed Sohiong poll has the support of the people. The Sohiong race had to be postponed after the UDP’s candidate, HDR Lyngdoh, died ahead of the election.
The party has now named HDR Lyngdoh’s nephew, Synshar Kupar Roy Lyngdoh Thabah, as its replacement candidate.
Metbah Lyngdoh maintained that the people in Sohiong are coming back to the UDP as they want to show their gratitude to the late HDR Lyngdoh (who had joined the UDP from the Congress Party not long before his death) because of his contribution to the constituency.
The deferred election will be held on May 10 and the counting of votes will take place on May 13.