Voting for national parties goes against the very thing that the founding fathers of Meghalaya fought for when the state was carved out of Assam 50 years ago.
This was stated by United Democratic Party (UDP) MDC Paul Lyngdoh today while welcoming Laban-Mawprem MDC Mitchell Wankhar into the party. Wankhar recently quit the National People’s Party (NPP).
While the NPP and UDP are allies in government, they will not shy away from criticising each other as next year’s state election nears.
Meanwhile, UDP president and Speaker of the Assembly Metbah Lyngdoh said that five sitting MLAs will join the party, while another four are still in talks with the UDP to do so.
“The UDP will triumph in 2023 and we will work the hardest for the indigenous people,” Metbah said at the party’s general meeting.
However, while Meghalaya receives much interest from outside the state with regards its culture, customs and environment, Metbah bemoaned that the locals always put down regional parties, such as the UDP.
“We got our statehood because the indigenous people were farsighted and unitedly fought with the regional party leaders during the Hill State movement,” he said, adding that this should be instilled in the minds of the young generations.
Paul said that for the last 50 years Meghalayans have allowed national parties to rule the indigenous tribes and this very mentality has defeated the heart of the forefathers who fought under a united regional force and successfully delivered statehood.
“The greatest gift the people of the state can give Meghalaya in this 50th year of statehood is to give the right space and platform for the biggest regional party, the UDP,” he said. “We cannot make Meghalaya prosperous if our roots are in Delhi and are a thousand kilometres away from us. The UDP needs to make an imprint here in our state, not in Delhi, and we don’t need MLAs and ministers who are more familiar with air hostesses than their constituents and their people.”
UDP general secretary Jemino Mawthoh said that the disintegration of the Congress Party has paved the way for greater success for the UDP come 2023.
MDC for Mawthadraishan, Jambor War, said, “It is okay if we reach only up to Khanapara (on the border with Assam) because we are more interested in serving our indigenous state than to end only in Delhi,” adding that the NPP’s excitement is for their own wants not for those of the indigenous people.
Former Chief Executive Member of the Jaiñtia Hills Autonomous District Council, Moonlight Pariat, said that the NPP has ignored Jaiñtia Hills, instead preferring to favour other North East states to increase its reach. He predicted four seats out of the seven in Jaiñtia Hills for the UDP at next year’s Assembly elections.
Meanwhile, Wankhar stated that he had always wanted to be with the UDP.
“I have been with the NPP for three years but I have never felt at home and it’s high time to fight unitedly under the biggest regional party. The people should give the UDP a chance to lead the state because the indigenous leaders know and have the best interest of their people and the state as a whole,” he said.
