Party’s position improved compared to LS polls: Paul
Shillong, Feb 26: The United Democratic Party (UDP), a key constituent of the ruling Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA), has blamed “anti-incumbency” for the party’s poor show in the autonomous district council (ADC) elections in Khasi and Jaintia Hills.
The party has won altogether eight seats – five in Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) and three in Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council (JHADC) – in the recent elections.
“It’s anti-incumbency…” said UDP leader and cabinet minister Paul Lyngdoh while answering reporters’ queries on the poll outcome on Tuesday.
“When you sit in the galleries, it’s easy to point out where things are going wrong on the ground but we have been on the ground for very long… people can point at our mistakes,” he said.
“In politics there are always ups and downs.. we will try to recover the lost ground,” he said.
Admitting that UDP’s performance in the election was “below par”, he said the party would soon meet to discuss the poll outcome.
However, the UDP leader termed the results an improvement compared to the votes secured by the party in Lok Sabha elections last year.
“Comparatively, in the Lok Sabha elections, we were almost wiped out but this time around we managed five seats on our own and HSPDP one. Anyway it is a sign that we are recovering but we would like the rate of recovery to be faster,” he said.
According to him, Jaiaw is one of the constituencies where the party has improved its numbers compared to the parliamentary elections.
Meanwhile, he congratulated the Voice of the People’s Party (VPP) for its excellent performance winning 17 and eight seats in KHADC and JHADC respectively.
“I wish them well and I wish that they will deliver on their electoral promises,” Lyngdoh said.
Asked about any move to change of party’s leadership, he said, “That thought has not crossed our mind.”
He also downplayed the incident of attack on the residence of a former rangbah shnong, saying the ADC elections in the state had been by and large peaceful.
“I do not think these will have far reaching consequences. It’s not the sort of politics you see happening in Bengal or Bihar,” he added.
