Shillong, Dec 9: The UDP has decided to field candidates in all the 29 seats of Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) even as the party has still kept its door open for a pre-poll alliance with the HSPDP for the upcoming ADC elections in Khasi and Jaintia Hills.
The United Democratic Party (UDP) and the Hill State People’s Democratic Party (HSPDP) are constituents of regional democratic alliance (RDA).
A meeting of RDA on Monday decided to further meet on December 11 to take a call on pre-poll alliance, especially in Jaintia Hills.
In Khasi Hills too, the UDP will look for an “understanding” with HSPDP in selection of candidates.
“We have decided to meet again to finalise the strategy… whether we go for pre-poll alliance or understanding regarding setting up of candidates in respective constituencies,” said UDP working president and Sohra MDC Titosstarwell Chyne.
“We will contest from all 29 seats. We will have understanding with our partner, the HSPDP in some constituencies and that decision will be taken on December 11,” he added.
Stating that the RDA has a good prospect in the ADC polls, Chyne said the UDP will form the new EC with the HSPDP in the district councils.
“We have good prospect, especially UDP in all districts, HSPDP in West Khasi Hills and some constituencies in East Khasi Hills,” he said.
Pointed out the parties’ performance in the recent Lok Sabha elections, the UDP leader said ADC polls cannot be compared to Lok Sabha elections.
“It is totally different. You will see that there will be a different result in the coming MDC elections,” he said.
He also made it clear that the UDP is not part of the government in district council, but in the opposition.
Predicting that no party will get absolute majority, he said ADC election results mostly depend on the individual candidates (not the parties).
Meanwhile, HSPDP president KP Pangniang said he had no knowledge that two of his party MLAs are inclined to join other parties.
“There is no question at all of them (MLAs) not supporting the candidates. They are part and parcel of the party and RDA,” he maintained.
